The Outstanding Universal Value of sites related to human evolution in Asia: the Acheulean as a case study for cooperation

The archaeological record of Asia is long and complex, offering ground for cooperation based on experiences acquired not only at the scale of the continent, but also outside it. This is especially true for the Middle Pleistocene record, and namely for the Acheulean. This cultural complex is well documented in the Near East and in India, but earlier sites and major archaeological sequences have been investigated in Africa. The preservation of Pleistocene sites occurs in different settings: in Asia fluvio-lacustrine basins, alluvial sequences, long-lasting caves have all been investigated and offer potential for future research, even if eroded areas do not allow the study of stratified sites, and problems also arise in terms of chronology. Innovative dating techniques are being worked out, leading to a re-assessment of the age of the deposits; while new methods of analysis allow the accurate evaluation of site formation processes and taphonomic issues. It is stressed that new narratives are also needed to convey to a larger audience the outcome of scientific research, and to make widely understood the Outstanding Universal Value of Asian sites and their potential for future research.