RECENT INVESTIGATIONS AT THE OLDOWAN SITE OF AIN-HANECH, ALGERIA

Recent investigations have been carried out at the Oldowan site of Ain Hanech in Algeria. The archaeological occurrences were delineated and positioned relative to the regional stratigraphy. Preliminary palaeom agnetic data reveal normal polarity for the Oldowan occurrences, which may be correlated with the Olduvai palaeomagnetic event, considering the vertebrate fauna. Fossil bones associated with stone artefacts and contained in fine silts mixed with sand and gravel were excavated fro m two archaeological sites. The fauna includes equids, bovids and hipp o, but is dominated by Equus tabeti. The artefact assemblage, resembli ng the Oldowan, includes core-tools, nuclei, retouched pieces, flakes and fragments.