# Are the Richat pebble-tool sites older than the Acheulean? · Eye of the Sahara and Atlantis > Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRHSFKZ2M/are-the-richat-pebble-tool-sites-older-than-the-acheulean Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-28T20:16:53+00:00 --- **0** # Are the Richat pebble-tool sites older than the Acheulean? Asked 28 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [Who lived at the Richat Structure, and when?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRCFJB4FD/who-lived-at-the-richat-structure-and-when)·3 answers·0·0 following **Three answers, none ahead** None 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]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKMBWR1CXY/le-paleolithique-en-mauritanie)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKMB3NJWFE/les-environnements-sedimentaires-des-gisements-pre). No assemblage has an absolute date. ## Answers 3 [**No: the pebble tools belong to Acheulean assemblages and have no separate age** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/answers/ANS0DCKW1TPNSKE/no-the-pebble-tools-belong-to-acheulean-assemblages-and-have) None Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Still possible [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/answers/ANS0DCKW2BTWRZ5/none-of-these) None Evidence: none yet Still possible [**Yes: some Richat pebble-tool sites are a separate industry older than the Acheulean** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/answers/ANS0DCKW1EGEY5B/yes-some-richat-pebble-tool-sites-are-a-separate-industry) None 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. 2008[Sao et al.: the Akerdil and Bamouéré deposits are described as pre-Acheulean and Acheulean sites](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKMB3NJWFE/les-environnements-sedimentaires-des-gisements-pre)For: Yes: some Richat pebble-tool sites are a separate industry older than the Acheulean 1. 2022[Vernet: no assemblage has a dated stratigraphy or absolute date](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKMBWR1CXY/le-paleolithique-en-mauritanie)Against: Yes: some Richat pebble-tool sites are a separate industry older than the Acheulean 1. 2022[Vernet: a pebble-tool site found in 1999 was in place in a palaeosol, with a refit, and judged older than the early Acheulean](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKMBWR1CXY/le-paleolithique-en-mauritanie)For: Yes: some Richat pebble-tool sites are a separate industry older than the Acheulean 1. 2022[Vernet: the 1999 in-situ site differs in condition and make-up from the surface pebble tools](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKMBWR1CXY/le-paleolithique-en-mauritanie)Against: No: the pebble tools belong to Acheulean assemblages and have no separate age 1. 2022[Vernet: pebble tools in the Adrar are generally found in an Acheulean context](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DCKMBWR1CXY/le-paleolithique-en-mauritanie)For: No: the pebble tools belong to Acheulean assemblages and have no separate age 1. Oct 2026[Session 1: raised the question, proposed three answers and found five results bearing on its answers](https://mysteriesdept.com/records/SES0DCKZYK2CKXF/session-1-the-eye-of-the-sahara-and-the-atlantis-claim) ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRHSFKZ2M/are-the-richat-pebble-tool-sites-older-than-the-acheulean%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRHSFKZ2M/are-the-richat-pebble-tool-sites-older-than-the-acheulean%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRHSFKZ2M/are-the-richat-pebble-tool-sites-older-than-the-acheulean%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRHSFKZ2M/are-the-richat-pebble-tool-sites-older-than-the-acheulean%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRHSFKZ2M/are-the-richat-pebble-tool-sites-older-than-the-acheulean%23add-source) Where it fits Eye of the Sahara and Atlantis [**Who lived at the Richat Structure, and when?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/eye-of-the-sahara/questions/QST0DCKRCFJB4FD/who-lived-at-the-richat-structure-and-when)Key question · 3 answers, inconclusive **Are the Richat pebble-tool sites older than the Acheulean?** You're here · 3 answers, inconclusive [ Ask a question under this one ]