The archaeostratigraphic unit D of Garba IV, dated to ¡«1.5?Ma, yielded one of the richest Early Stone Age lithic series in East Africa. In this paper, a review traces methods of technological analysis, based on the concept of cha?ne op¨¦ratoire, to update our knowledge of the techno-economic behaviours at this site. The results show two major elements characteristic of cultural changes in the Melka Kunture sequence: (1) the emergence of a new cha?ne op¨¦ratoire focused on large flake/large cutting tool (LCT) production, and (2) a large variability of small d¨¦bitage modalities with systematic preparation of the striking platform and the appearance of a certain degree of predetermination.
These technological traits are shared by the contemporaneous sites in East Africa and are considered to be typical of the early Acheulean. This suggests an older origin for the Acheulean at Melka Kunture, 0.5?Ma than previously inferred.