Groß Pampau, GR, c. 500,000 BP, Site, Characteristic Tools, Bifaces / f)pampbifaces

Comment: Two cordiform 'handaxes' and 'cleaver' found in association andwith similar reddish patina and abrasion by Ursel Benekendorff in 1985 in redeposited gravel from the Ohle Pit, Groß Pampau. A cordiform and cleaver pair typifies the African Middle and Later Acheulian. These and other Pampau bifaces and cleavers may be compared to those from Olduvai Gorge FLK Masek Beds [e.g., Leakey, M. D. (1994). Olduvai Gorge, Vol. 5: Excavations in Beds III, IV, and the Masek Beds, 1968-1971. Cambridge, UK: At the University Press:pl. 20-21], which are dated to between 400,000-600,000 BP. This coincides with the dating of the bulk of the Pampau moraine materials to the Mindle glacial around 500,000 years ago. These pointed cordates and cleaver may also be compared to the British Cordiform and Cleaver Tradition dated to OIS9 (c. 300,000 BP).

Photo © Ursel Benekendorff. Collection Ursel Benekendorff. The site is documented in Benekendorff, U. (1990). From the information recorder stone to a picture book of the stone age. Archaeologische Berichten 20:14-28 and 43-65 (Elst, NL).