Lower and Early Middle Palaeolithic of Southern Britain: the Evidence from the River Test

Fluvial terrace sequences of Pleistocene rivers provide a chronological framework for examining broad patterns change in the Palaeolithic record. Collections artefacts recovered from individual terraces represent time-averaged sample range lithic technology discarded river valley over thousands years. These can be compared and contrasted with other to identify timing appearance key technological innovations variation technology. In Britain, punctuated nature human presence during means that archaeological across sequence is likely relate part successive phases occupation by groups derived populations mainland Europe. This paper presents an analysis Lower early Middle record River Test, Hampshire, which was tributary former Solent. The first handaxes Levallois established, patterning handaxe typology identified. Test placed its regional context, implications understanding history northwest Europe are discussed.