Question

Micoquian is a :

• A. Blade
• B. Hand-axe
• C. Chopper
• D. Scraper

Hint:

Many Palaeolithic industries are named after a type site and are defined by a specific type of tool. Micoquian is a key term for the transitional period between the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic in Europe, and its signature tool is a refined, late-Acheulean style of hand-axe.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to identify what "Micoquian" refers to in the context of prehistoric archaeology. Micoquian is the name of a specific stone tool industry from the late Lower Palaeolithic and early Middle Palaeolithic periods in Europe.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- The Micoquian industry is named after the type site of La Micoque in southwestern France. - It is considered a late variant of the Acheulean tradition. The hallmark of the Acheulean is the biface, or hand-axe. - The Micoquian is specifically defined by a distinctive type of finely-made, often asymmetrical hand-axe. This Micoquian hand-axe typically has a thick, rounded base and a thinned, sharp, and often pointed tip. - Let's analyze the options: - (A) Blade: Blades are characteristic of the later Upper Palaeolithic. - (B) Hand-axe: The Micoquian is an industry characterized by a specific type of hand-axe. This is the correct category. - (C) Chopper: Choppers are the defining tools of the much earlier Oldowan industry. - (D) Scraper: Scrapers are common tools in many periods, especially the Middle Palaeolithic (Mousterian), but the Micoquian is defined by its bifaces, not scrapers.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Micoquian refers to a stone tool industry whose diagnostic artifact is a specific type of hand-axe. Therefore, the correct answer is Hand-axe.