Which mode is associated with the Oldowan tool tradition?

The Oldowan tool tradition is associated with Mode 1. This classification of stone tools is characterized by the production of simple flaked tools, primarily created by striking larger stones to obtain sharp-edged pieces. The Oldowan tools include choppers, flakes, and cores, which were primarily used for basic tasks such as cutting and processing food.

Mode 1 represents the earliest known tradition in the development of stone tools, typically linked with early hominins such as Homo habilis. This simplicity reflects the early stage of tool technology, where the focus was primarily on basic functionality rather than sophistication or specialization. Understanding the context of the Oldowan tradition helps illuminate the early stages of human technological development and adaptation. The other modes (Modes 2, 3, and 4) refer to later and more advanced tool-making traditions, reflecting a progression in complexity and function in the evolution of early human tools.