Acheulean

US: (ə sho̅o̅′lē ən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

A•cheu•le•an  (ə sho̅o̅′lē ən), adj. 

1. Archaeology of, pertaining to, or typical of a Lower Paleolithic culture of the middle Pleistocene Epoch, characterized by large hand axes and cleavers made by the soft hammer technique.

Also, A•cheu′li•an. 

• Latin -iānus -ian), origin, originally with nouns ending in -é
• French acheuléen, named after St. Acheul, north, northern France (Somme) (where remains were found) + -éen, variant of -ien (
• 1890–95

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Acheulian, Acheulean / əˈʃuːlɪən -jən/ noun

1. (in Europe) the period in the Lower Palaeolithic following the Abbevillian, represented by the use of soft hammerstones in hand axe production made of chipped stone, bone, antler, or wood. The Acheulian dates from the Riss glaciation
2. (in Africa) the period represented by every stage of hand axe development

adjective

1. of or relating to this period

Etymology: 20th Century: after St Acheul, town in northern France