Atapuerca Site Shows 400,000-Year-Old Chert Tool Preference
Why this is here: The near-total reliance on local chert—comprising 99% of the tools—at Gran Dolina sets this site apart from other locations in the Atapuerca region and suggests a deliberate strategy linked to communal hunting practices.
Researchers discovered almost exclusive use of local chert at the Gran Dolina site in Atapuerca, Spain, dating back 400,000 years. The study, published in Quaternary International, analyzed over 10,000 stone artifacts from level TD10.2-BB. This level contains evidence of communal bison hunting and processing, with remains of over 60 animals.
The team found that 99% of the stone tools were made from locally sourced chert. This preference is unusual compared to other sites in the Sierra de Atapuerca, which typically show a wider variety of materials.
Researchers link this behavior to organized hunting strategies and resource acquisition tied to subsistence. They suggest hominins strategically obtained materials and adapted tool production to hunting needs, indicating planning and cooperation skills. The findings illuminate connections between technology, food acquisition, and social structure in early human populations.