Back to the drawing board: A simplified approach to assemblage variability in the Early Palaeolithic

The archaeological record of the Early Palaeolithic consists mainly of lithic assemblages. Despite many years of intensive research effort, comparatively little is understood of the organization of the early hominid adaptations behind these artefacts. At least one fault seems to lie in some basic assumptions employed in the analysis of these assemblages, particularly in the application of formal tool typologies. An alternative approach is outlined, focussed on the technological variability of complete assemblages rather than just their shaped tool component. The study of broad technological dimensions provides a more useful method for studying lithic assemblage variability, while multivariate statistics, such as the Principal Factor Analysis, can be useful analytical tools at the level of pattern recognition.