The 400kyr-old Ebbsfleet elephant butchery site

[Daryl Habel]

The journal publication of the approx. 400,000-year-old elephant (Palaeoloxodon antiquus) found in the Ebbsfleet Valley, Kent, near Swanscombe, in association with a lithic assemblage described as Clactonian, and interpreted as a butchery site, was announced today.  This discovery had previously been announced in January 2005 HERE,

As follow-up and background to the original discovery announcement, here's an old (Jan 2005) but informative story with particulars of a debate, still current, surrounding the relationship between the Clactonian (non-handaxe) and Acheulean (handaxe) industries in Britain. and who might have manufactured them:
CLICK HERE

The new article is:

Wenban-Smith, F.F., P. Allen, M. R. Bates, S. A. Parfitt, R. C. Preece, J. R. Stewart, C. Turner & J. E. Whittaker. 2006. The Clactonian elephant butchery site at Southfleet Road, Ebbsfleet, UK. Journal of Quaternary Science 21 (5): 471-483.

Abstract
Archaeological excavations at Southfleet Road, Ebbsfleet, Kent, have
revealed a complex sequence of fossiliferous Middle Pleistocene
sediments containing lithic artefacts. An incomplete skeleton of
straight-tusked elephant Palaeoloxodon antiquus was found in
lacustrine sediments in close association with a cluster of mint
condition cores, flakes and notched flake-tools, some with evidence
of use-damage. These finds appear to reflect in situ tool production
and butchery of the elephant carcass. A far larger concentration of
similar artefacts, again in mint condition, occurred nearby in the
same horizon. These finds were overlain by a fluvial gravel
containing abundant handaxes, some also in mint condition. A range
of fossils, including pollen, molluscs and small vertebrates,
indicates temperate conditions with local woodland coeval with the
elephant butchery. The sediments appear to have formed during the
early part of an interglacial, almost certainly MIS 11. As well as
providing rare undisturbed evidence of human behaviour, the site
supports the existence of a distinctive non-handaxe Clactonian
core/flake-tool industry in southeast England at this period.
Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Available from Wiley Interscience, at: CLICK HERE, and floating around in soft piracy if you know where to look.

Today's BBC media story is available HERE

Dar
(edited July 4, 2006, to correct elephant genus to Palaeoloxodon)

[shenzhou]

There are some more pictures and info on Francis Wenban-Smith's  website here

The issue of the Journal of Quaternary Science that contains this paper is a special issue called 'the Palaeolithic occupation of Europe. A tribute to John J. Wymer, 1928-2006' if anyone wants another paper from the issue it could be made available.

[SteveF]

The new issue of JQS is an interesting volume.  There is a good review by Wil Roebroeks, a paper with evidence for fire usage during the Hoxnian and more on the latest radiocarbon changes by the Oxford group, amongst other things.  I recommend getting a copy. 

For UK residents, if you attend the Palaeolithic-Mesolithic conference at the British Museum in September, you get a free copy.  I don't think anything is online yet, but it runs on the 21st-22nd of September.  Speakers include Chris Stringer, Roger Jacobi, John McNabb, Jean Clottes.  Nick Ashton at the BM is organising it and it costs £45 to attend.