Word
abbevillian
Phoneticsabbevil·lian
Definitions
01archaeological period/style
adj. relating to the earliest part of the Stone Age and the simple stone tools made during that time.
adj. Pertaining to the earliest stage of the Lower Palaeolithic culture in Europe, specifically the stone-tool industry preceding the Acheulean.
“The museum displayed several Abbevillian hand axes found in the river valley.”
“Archaeologists debated whether the Abbevillian industry represented a distinct cultural stage or merely an early, less refined phase of the Acheulean tradition.”
Technical · Archaic
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it modifies; now largely replaced by 'Acheulean' in modern academic contexts.
Synonyms
02the epoch or culture
n. the name for the earliest period of the Stone Age in Europe.
n. The earliest epoch of the Lower Palaeolithic tradition, characterized by the production of bifacial stone implements.
“During the Abbevillian, early humans began to shape large stones into basic tools.”
“The transition from the Abbevillian to the Acheulean is marked by a significant improvement in the symmetry and thinning of bifacial tools.”
Technical · Archaic
Usage
Used as a proper noun to refer to a specific time period or cultural stage.
Teaching tip
This term is considered dated in modern archaeology; students will more frequently encounter 'Acheulean' in contemporary literature.
Synonyms
Etymology
Name derived from Abbeville, France (location of the archaeological sites).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.