The Lower Palaeolithic: lithics & landscapes
As part of the INQUA-HABCOM project, we are organising a five-day knapping and skill training in-person workshop for ECRs. This workshop introduces ECRs from different disciplines to aspects of Lower Palaeolithic technology and implications for hominin behaviour. Theoretical and methodological approaches to issues in the Lower Palaeolithic will be dealt with through lectures, observations of stone tool assemblages and lithic knapping. This will be supplemented by lithic analysis and 3D morphometrics. Experiments related to tool use will be conducted on various materials to investigate aspects of residue and microwear. At the end of the workshop, participants should gain theoretical and practical knowledge on aspects of the Lower Palaeolithic, focusing on India and Africa.
Date: 31st August-4th September 2024
Limited to 10 participants only
Click HERE to complete the google form or scan the barcode on the flyer
ECR Workshop Gallery
Ask an Archaeologist
In collaboration with the Down Ancient Trails Series, organised by the Sharma Centre for Heritage Education, we will be conducting an online meeting with the school students where they will interact with the Archaeologists and Palaeoscientists.
Date: August 2024
Africa Component: Children Workshop
Similar activities were carried out in Algeria by Dr. Razika Chelli Cheheb (CNRPAH, Algeria), entitled "kid sapiens archaeologist” with a group of 15 children from Les Glycines primary school. The workshop was focussed mainly on the human evolution of the different stone tools made by different species. The students then participated in a demonstration dig, which allowed them to gain experience and perspective on archaeological excavation by collecting lithic and faunal remains, documenting them on-site, and conserving them for laboratory examination. These children had undergone a beautiful experimental demonstration made by Dr Chelli Cheheb and Dr Arezki Bourai, on processes of the manufacturing of a handaxe. The children in this part learned the choice of the raw material, the hammerstone, etc. and how to make replicas of stone tools which will serve us as methods to understand the technical behavior of prehistoric man. Further, they dedicated the time to rock art where they discussed about prehistoric art (painting, engravings, ornament, etc.), frankly, these were expressive moments for these young children. On another day, a school visit to the Tighennif hominid site (Acheulian site ∼ 1 Million years ago) was organized by R. Chelli Cheheb in collaboration with the entire research project team on this site (directed by Prof. M. Sahnouni) with a group of 25 primary school children, who went to the site with their teacher, to live the real moments of an archaeological excavation in situ. Finally, these children recognized that the earliest technology of man was the making of stone tools.
India Component: Children Workshop
The first of a series of workshops for children and teachers was initiated with primary school students and teachers from the Mrs. Ellen Sharma Memorial Nursery and Primary School, Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. A total of 44 children and 8 teachers participated in the workshop entitled “Let’s Explore the Stone Age”. An introductory audio-visual talk summarised the story of human evolution and prehistory, with children handling stone tools and fossil replicas gaining an introductory perspective on this topic. Subsequently, they excavated two mock-trenches uncovering fossils, bones and stone tools thereby gaining an understanding of the process of archaeological research ranging from the field to the lab. They then learn all about fossils and made a fossil impression of a shell, following which they learn about how to make a cast of impressions. This was an item that they took home with them. Subsequently, they were introduced to rock art and thought about themes, made their own colours and executed rock art projects to express their thoughts. Dr Akhilesh then demonstrated stone tool knapping knocking off flakes from a core. Children then were given protective gloves and flakes and experimented on using them on wood pieces. Lastly, a discussion was followed by an art session, where children expressed what they enjoyed in the form of art. Certificates were distributed in the school, by Dr. Kumar Akhilesh.
