The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Archaeology

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Acheulian

Acheulian [CP].
Lower Palaeolithic toolmaking tradition, found throughout Europe, western Asia, and Africa, which is closely associated with Homo erectus. The tradition was initially named, after the type-site assemblage from ST ACHEUL, Amiens, France, as the Epoque de St Acheul by de Mortillet in 1872, and after 1925 as the Acheulian. The most distinctive stone tools were ovate and pear-shaped handaxes, but assemblages also include flake tools and waste flakes which show considerable regional variation. In Europe the Acheulian Tradition spans the period from about 1 million years ago down to about 100 000 years ago. In Africa the Acheulian follows the OLDOWAN and spans the period 1.5 million years ago down to 150 000 years ago.

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