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 in studying the evolution of abstract thought and the cognitive abilities of hominids. Here, we report on Victoria West cores excavated from the Canteen Kopje site in central South Africa, with a preliminary age estimate of approximately 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 in this time period.

预制石核技术（prepared core technology）体现了石核剥制过程中的深度规划能力与预设心理模板的存在。因此，该技术是研究抽象思维演化与古人类认知能力的重要指标。本研究报道了出土于南非中部坎廷科普杰遗址（Canteen Kopje site）的维多利亚西石核（Victoria West cores），经初步估算，这些石核的年代约为1百万年前（1 Ma）。技术分析表明，维多利亚西石核与勒瓦娄哇技术（Levallois）所定义的“体积概念”具有相似性；勒瓦娄哇技术是一种至少可追溯至20万年前（200 ka）且分布广泛的成熟预制石核技术。尽管存在上述相似性，但维多利亚西石核仍存在若干显著差异，使其成为一种独特的预制石核技术，具体表现为：石核形态修长且呈汇聚状、剥片击打方向一致、以大型侧面剥片为主，以及利用此类剥片制作阿舍利（Acheulean）大型切割工具。坎廷科普杰遗址出土的这一创新性石核剥制策略，将预制石核技术的起源追溯至早阿舍利时期的晚期，清晰展现了该时期古人类认知能力与认知复杂度的提升。