RESEARCH PROJECT

The study of lithic technology has traditionally relied on visual examination and morpho-technological descriptions. Over recent decades, however, quantitative approaches and digital tools have profoundly transformed our ability to document, compare, and interpret archaeological assemblages. The integration of three-dimensional models, advanced statistical analyses, geometric morphometrics, and computational techniques now allows researchers to address more complex questions concerning technological evolution and human behaviour during the Pleistocene.

WEAP was created with the aim of integrating these innovative methodologies into the study of the Acheulean industries of Western Europe. To achieve this, the project combines traditional technological analysis with archaeological, chronological, palaeoenvironmental, and palaeontological data, creating a multidisciplinary research framework capable of exploring human occupation processes at broader spatial and temporal scales than previously possible.

One of the project's major achievements has been the development of standardized analytical protocols that enable direct comparison between archaeological collections from different countries. This approach has facilitated the joint study of key Acheulean assemblages from the United Kingdom, France, and the Iberian Peninsula, allowing technological variability to be examined from both regional and continental perspectives. As a result, it has become possible to identify behavioural patterns, production strategies, and potential mechanisms of cultural transmission among human populations separated by considerable geographical distances.

The systematic application of 3D models and geometric morphometric techniques has helped overcome several limitations associated with traditional typological approaches. These methods enable researchers to quantify shape variability in handaxes, cleavers, and other shaped tools with greater precision, providing new insights into technological standardization, production planning, and the cognitive abilities involved in stone-tool manufacture.

At the same time, the project has promoted the development of open-access relational databases integrating technological, contextual, and spatial information. These resources represent a significant contribution to the international scientific community, facilitating large-scale comparative studies and encouraging the reuse of archaeological data across different research projects.

In recent years, research has expanded towards investigating the technological decision-making processes and cognitive capabilities of Pleistocene human populations. By combining experimental archaeology, quantitative analyses, and computational modelling, WEAP seeks to better understand how prehistoric groups planned tool production, managed available resources, and adapted to changing environments during their dispersal across Western Europe.

Through these research lines, WEAP continues to generate new perspectives on hominin technological evolution, contributing to a deeper understanding of the processes of innovation, adaptation, and cultural transmission that shaped the earliest human occupations of the European continent.