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Sourcebook of Paleolithic Transitions pp 255–264Cite as

The Lower to Middle Paleolithic Transition in South Asia and Its Implications for Hominin Cognition and Dispersals

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Abstract

The widespread appearance of prepared core–based industries during the Middle Pleistocene has been argued to represent a significant step in cognitive evolution. Yet recent research has indicated that prepared core technology develops in the Acheulean industries of Africa and Eurasia. Here, the evidence for a similar, in situ development of prepared core technology is described within a number of sites from the Indian subcontinent. The implications for our understanding of the role of hominin cognitive evolution and dispersals during the Acheulean to Middle Paleolithic transition are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK

    H. James & M.D. Petraglia

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  1. H. James
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  2. M.D. Petraglia
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Anthropology, George Washington University, G Street NW., 2110, Washington, 20052, U.S.A.

    Marta Camps

  2. CRAFT Stone Age Institute, Indiana University, W. Dittemore Road 1392, Gosport, 47433-9531, U.S.A.

    Parth Chauhan

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James, H., Petraglia, M. (2009). The Lower to Middle Paleolithic Transition in South Asia and Its Implications for Hominin Cognition and Dispersals. In: Camps, M., Chauhan, P. (eds) Sourcebook of Paleolithic Transitions. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-76487-0_16

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