Abstract The Acheulean, a key Lower Palaeolithic technocomplex characterised by iconic large cutting tools (LCTs), is one of the most extensively studied phenomena in prehistoric archaeology. Yet its vast chrono-spatial distribution, together with the persistent tension between technological homogeneity and variability, has hindered the construction of robust cultural phylogenetic scenarios for its evolution and dispersal. One way to address this challenge is to develop regional- and continental-scale syntheses of industrial traits based on standardised analytical protocols. Such protocols can help overcome differences in site context, artifact recovery, chronology and publication standards that reflect diverse geographic, chronological and academic traditions. In tune with this we integrate technological and computational archaeological analyses under open science principles to conduct a comparative study of Acheulean variability and cultural phylogeny at the Eurasian crossroads of the Aegean and the southern Levant. Our point of departure is Rodafnidia, a Middle Pleistocene locality on the island of Lesvos, Greece, where excavations have revealed stratified Acheulean knapped stone tool assemblages. We present a comprehensive morpho-technological analysis of an LCT assemblage composed of handaxes and cleavers from Rodafnidia. The analysis evaluates contextual integrity and examines the relationship between technological procedures and morphological features across well-provenanced stratified artifacts and surface finds. Given the scarcity of Acheulean assemblages in the Balkan Peninsula and western Anatolia, we compare the Rodafnidia material with five handaxe assemblages from ‘Ubeidiya, Gesher Benot Ya’aqov (GBY), Ma’ayan Barukh, Holon, and Nahal Hesi, as well as with nine cleaver assemblages from GBY. Together, these reference assemblages span different chrono-cultural stages of the Levantine Acheulean. The results reveal a high degree of homogeneity within the Rodafnidia assemblage, indicating consistent technological preferences and recurrent morphological outcomes. At the same time, the morpho-technological configuration identified at Rodafnidia differs from any pattern recognised among the studied Levantine assemblages. Our research protocol underscores the value of integrated comparative morpho-technological analyses for investigating the complex evolutionary and cultural dynamics of Acheulean hominin populations. More broadly, our findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of Middle Pleistocene Acheulean variability and cultural phylogeny in this part of the Mediterranean, while demonstrating a scalable approach that can be applied across the Acheulean world.
Herzlinger et al. (Sat,) studied this question.