Question

Pear-shaped, tongue-shaped and oval-shaped hand-axes are commonly seen in which culture?

• A. Abbevillian
• B. Pre-Chellean
• C. Acheulean
• D. Clactonian

Hint:

Remember this simple distinction for the Lower Palaeolithic: Oldowan = choppers. Acheulean = hand-axes. Clactonian = flakes and choppers, NO hand-axes. The detailed shapes (pear, oval) point directly to the classic Acheulean toolkit.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks to identify the prehistoric tool culture characterized by specific forms of hand-axes. The hand-axe (or biface) is the hallmark tool of a major Lower Palaeolithic industry.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
- Abbevillian: This is an older term for the early, cruder phase of the Acheulean in Europe. While it features hand-axes, they are typically thick, crudely flaked, and less refined than the shapes described.
- Pre-Chellean: This is an obsolete term for supposed tool industries older than the Chellean (another old name for Abbevillian) and is not a standard classification.
- Acheulean: This is the correct answer. The Acheulean industry, which lasted for over a million years, is defined by its characteristic bifacial tool, the hand-axe. Over its long duration, the hand-axe evolved from crude early forms to highly refined, symmetrical tools. The classic descriptive shapes for these developed hand-axes include pear-shaped, oval-shaped (ovate), and pointed, tongue-shaped (lanceolate) forms.
- Clactonian: This was a contemporary Lower Palaeolithic industry in Europe that is notable for its lack of hand-axes. Its toolkit was based on thick flakes struck from cores, with the cores themselves often used as chopper-like tools.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The diverse and well-crafted forms of hand-axes, including pear, tongue, and oval shapes, are the defining characteristic of the Acheulean culture.