Was Homo erectus responsible for the hand-axe culture?

Abstract This paper reviews the evidence from Africa, Asia and Europe of the cultural associations of Middle Pleistocene hominids, as well as the hominid skeletal associations of hand-axe remains. The author points out that it is possible to make a good argument—from the evidence of Steinheim, Kanjera and Swanscombe—that the hand-axes at these sites were made by Homo sapiens . On the other hand, on the basis of Fontechevade and Vertesszollos, it could be claimed that Middle Pleistocene Homo sapiens was responsible for primitive flake and chopper cultures. The evidence from Java is negative while that from China is directly opposed to the view that Homo erectus made hand-axes. Only from Ternifine in Algeria and Olduvai in Tanzania is there suggestive evidence that Homo erectus in those areas might have been responsible for the hand-axe culture. Thus, it is not possible at present to make any categorical statements as to the makers of either the great hand-axe culture or the flake and chopper culture, during Middle Pleistocene times.