Fig. 5: Hypothetical temporal and geographic overlap between the Acheulean (blue) and MP/MSA (yellow).

Distributions of each technology are represented from ~550 to ~50 Kya (top to bottom), respectively. Although hypothetical, the population dynamics outlined here demonstrate how localised extinctions, colonisation waves and admixture likely influenced the distribution of the Acheulean. It is still unknown whether the MP/MSA originated in one location before spreading to alternative populations, or it independently originated in multiple regions. Here, we have illustrated the latter scenario.