Early Acheulian & Developed OldowanB / l)oldupbdIIbiffig30

Biface/Handaxe. Upper Bed II, Olduvai Gorge (c. 1.15 - 1.3 MYA). Like the previous one, this biface ('handaxe') has a 'two-tiered', 6-faceted set of thematic shapes. Its plan view appears to be constituted by a mirror pair of convex shapes on either side of the lower tier and a mirror symmetry of curvilinear shapes on the upper tier. At the top it has a convex shape in symmetrical opposition to a concave shape at the bottom.

(Its overall shape may be construed as analogous to male genitals, but whether the maker had such a representational intent cannot be determined. It may be surmised based on later Acheulian bifaces which have sexual symbolism that intentional or accidental this biface may have been understood as having such a signification.)

Illustration © T. Wynn. T. Wynn. (1989). The Evolution of Spatial Competence. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press: fig. 30. (yellow highlight added)