Data from: The Victoria West: earliest prepared core technology in the Acheulean at Canteen Kopje and implications for the cognitive evolution of early hominids

Prepared core technology illustrates in-depth planning and the presence of a mental template during the core reduction process. This technology is, therefore, a significant indicator for studying the evolution of abstract thought and the cognitive abilities in hominids. Here, we report on Victoria West cores excavated from the Canteen Kopje site in central South Africa, with a preliminary age estimate of 0.8-1.1 Ma (million years ago) for these cores. Technological analysis shows that the Victoria West cores bear similarities to the “Volumetric Concept” as defined for the Levallois, a popular and widely distributed prepared core technology from at least 200 ka (thousand years ago). Although these similarities are present, several notable differences also occur that make the Victoria West a unique and distinctive prepared core technology; these are: elongated and convergent core shapes, consistent blow directions for flake removal, a predominance of large side-struck flakes, and the use of these flakes to make Acheulean large cutting tools. This innovative core reduction strategy at Canteen Kopje extends the roots of prepared core technology to the latter part of the Early Acheulean and clearly demonstrates an increase in the cognitive abilities and complexities of hominids at this time period.

预制石核技术（prepared core technology）的核心特征，体现为石核剥片流程中兼具深度规划能力与心理模板（mental template）的运用。因此，该技术是研究古人类抽象思维演化与认知能力的重要指标。本次报道的维多利亚西部石核（Victoria West cores）出土自南非中部的坎廷科普杰遗址（Canteen Kopje site），经初步年代估算，其年代距今约0.8至1.1 Ma（百万年）。技术分析显示，维多利亚西部石核与勒瓦娄哇（Levallois）预制石核技术所定义的“体积概念（Volumetric Concept）”具有相似性——勒瓦娄哇技术是一种至少可追溯至200 ka（千年）前的成熟且广泛分布的预制石核技术。尽管存在上述相似性，维多利亚西部石核仍存在若干显著差异，使其成为一类独特且区别于其他预制石核技术的技术类型：其石核形态修长且呈收敛状、石片剥制的击打方向统一、以大型侧向剥制石片为主，且利用此类石片制作阿舍利大型切割工具。坎廷科普杰遗址出土的这一创新性石核剥片策略，将预制石核技术的起源追溯至早阿舍利时期晚期，清晰展现了该时期古人类认知能力与认知复杂度的提升。