Mysteries Department
Sign inRequest access
0

Are the Richat pebble-tool sites older than the Acheulean?

Asked 28 Oct 2026 by ·Part of Who lived at the Richat Structure, and when?·3 answers·0·0 following
Three answers, none aheadNone is ahead yet. See what would settle it.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible.

Why it matters

If the pebble tools are a separate industry earlier than the handaxes, the Richat holds some of the oldest human traces in the western Sahara; if they belong to the Acheulean, they are part of the same long record⁠[1]⁠[2]. No assemblage has an absolute date.

Answers 3

Evidence: 1 for, 1 against
Still possible
Evidence: none yet
Still possible
Evidence: 2 for, 1 against
Still possible

What would settle it

  1. Obtain Prince 2004 (Actes du XIe Congrès panafricain, Bamako) and Sao's 2010 Perpignan thesis, and record what each says about the stratigraphy and age of the pebble-tool sites.

History

  1. Sao et al.: the Akerdil and Bamouéré deposits are described as pre-Acheulean and Acheulean sitesFor: Yes: some Richat pebble-tool sites are a separate industry older than the Acheulean
  2. Vernet: no assemblage has a dated stratigraphy or absolute dateAgainst: Yes: some Richat pebble-tool sites are a separate industry older than the Acheulean
  3. Vernet: a pebble-tool site found in 1999 was in place in a palaeosol, with a refit, and judged older than the early AcheuleanFor: Yes: some Richat pebble-tool sites are a separate industry older than the Acheulean
  4. Vernet: the 1999 in-situ site differs in condition and make-up from the surface pebble toolsAgainst: No: the pebble tools belong to Acheulean assemblages and have no separate age
  5. Vernet: pebble tools in the Adrar are generally found in an Acheulean contextFor: No: the pebble tools belong to Acheulean assemblages and have no separate age
  6. Session 1: raised the question, proposed three answers and found five results bearing on its answers
Add evidence
1What it bears on2What you found3Where it comes from
Which answer?
Does it count for or against it?
In a sentence, what did you find?
What you found optional
Where it comes from optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.
Propose an answer
Your answer, in a sentence
What would rule it out? optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.
Ask a sub-question
Your question
Why it would help optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.
Add a source
The source
What it shows about this question optional
Two reviewers check it before it counts, one of whom backs a different answer. You'll hear back by email: accepted, needs changes, or a duplicate.

Discussion 0

Add to the discussion