- University of the Witwatersrand, TracSymbols Project, Graduate Studentadd
- Zooarchaeology, Taphonomy, Middle Stone Age (Archaeology), Biological Anthropology, Forensic Anthropology, Palaeopathology, and 14 moreArchaeology of Caves and Caverns (Archaeospeleology), Human Behavioural Ecology, Springbok, Tamaryn Hodgskiss, Anthropology, Archaeology, Unidentified long bone, Still Bay, Blombos Cave, Environmental Sustainability, Palaeoecology, Experimental Archaeology, Faunal Analysis, and Palaeoenvironmentedit
- I am a Senior Lecturer in archaeology at the University of the Witwatersrand. My research interests includes subsiste... moreI am a Senior Lecturer in archaeology at the University of the Witwatersrand. My research interests includes subsistence behaviour and palaeoecological change during the Late Pleistocene. I lead an NFR-funded project investigating occupational intensity and environmental change in the Late Pleistocene in the southern and eastern Cape. I also have interests in the bioarchaeology of Khoe-San and Cape Slave descendants.edit
Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 4 and 3 were significant periods encompassing some 50,000 years, including at least two techno-cultural entities: the Howiesons Poort (HP) and post-HP. Exploring subsistence and environmental changes during... more
Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 4 and 3 were significant periods encompassing some 50,000 years, including at least two techno-cultural entities: the Howiesons Poort (HP) and post-HP. Exploring subsistence and environmental changes during these periods may help us understand broader aspects of behavioural and occupational patterns over MIS 4 and 3. In this paper, we report on taphonomic analyses of a sample of early HP, late HP and post-HP fauna from Klasies River main site cave 1A. We use these and other faunal data to examine the links between subsistence behaviour and the environment during the HP and post-HP. The results of our analyses indicate that percussion marks are abundant in the HP, with percussion mark frequencies more prevalent in the later HP than the early HP indicating that humans were the primary accumulators of fauna in the HP. Other taphonomic data such as fracture patterns, burning and trampling marks also suggests that human activity was more prevalent in the HP than the post-HP. In contrast, in the post-HP, the prevalence of zoogenic marks on small mammal remains, and comparisons to actualistic assemblages indicate that carnivores probably contributed significantly to the post-HP assemblage. In all the samples investigated, crania dominate skeletal-part profiles. This could be a result of taphonomic bias, or it could indicate that foraging likely occurred relatively close to the site. Analyses of carcass-part utility show that marrow-extraction may have been a key subsistence strategy in the HP. In the post-HP, bone density-mediated attrition had a significant effect on fauna making it challenging to ascertain subsistence patterns, but preliminary analysis may also suggest marrow extraction in combination with other strategies.
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Klasies River is a key site in understanding the behaviour of coastal foragers in the southern Cape of South Africa. Faunal remains from Klasies River, recovered from an almost 70,000 year sequence over the Late Pleistocene, are a... more
Klasies River is a key site in understanding the behaviour of coastal foragers in the southern Cape of South Africa. Faunal remains from Klasies River, recovered from an almost 70,000 year sequence over the Late Pleistocene, are a valuable dataset in investigating subsistence and occupational dynamics, yet few taphonomic studies have been conducted on the fauna from Klasies River. Here, the first taphonomic analyses of faunal remains from the Deacon and Wurz excavation is presented. The aim of this paper is to link occupational patterns during the Late Pleistocene at Klasies River with coastal ecology using taxonomic data from previous studies, and recently analysed taphonomic data. Taphonomic analyses of samples from the MSA II Lower, the Howiesons Poort and the MSA III periods were used to examine occupational intensity based on proportions of anthropogenic and zoogenic bone surface modification, trampling marks, transverse fractures and faunal density. Declining foraging efficien...
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Occupational intensity is a common theme in current research and has been linked to significant demographic trends in the past. The Late Pleistocene in the southern Cape may be especially important in understanding the impacts of... more
Occupational intensity is a common theme in current research and has been linked to significant demographic trends in the past. The Late Pleistocene in the southern Cape may be especially important in understanding the impacts of socio-demographic change given its association with developments in ‘modern’ human behaviour. The ubiquity of archaeo-faunal remains at Middle Stone Age (MSA) sites makes these convenient datasets for documenting site-specific occupational patterns. In this paper, zooarchaeological and taphonomic data are evaluated as proxies for occupational intensity, and occupational trends are explored in the southern Cape. Zooarchaeological and taphonomic data from three southern Cape MSA sites—Klipdrift Shelter, Blombos Cave and Pinnacle Point—are compared with previously determined higher and lower occupational levels within each site to assess the value of these proxies in tracking temporal changes in settlement intensity. The results show that, while frequencies of small mammals and larger ungulates often covary with occupational levels, these are problematic indicators because of the impact of carnivores. Similarly, faunal diversity generally corresponds well with increasing human occupations but is a problematic proxy because of the effects of animal activity. Anthropogenic bone surface modifications appear to be effective in tracking occupational patterns, with trampling a particularly useful indicator. Faunal and shellfish density, and transverse bone fracture patterns, are valuable proxies of occupational intensity at all sites. Generally, the data suggests close links between occupational intensity at these sites and marine transgressions. Evidence of increased exploitation of small game in the later MSA may imply periods of subsistence intensification possibly linked to increased demographic pressure during Marine Isotope Stage 4.
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This is an advance summary of a forthcoming article in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Anthropology. Please check back later for the full article. The Late Pleistocene in southern Africa shows important developments in human... more
This is an advance summary of a forthcoming article in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Anthropology. Please check back later for the full article. The Late Pleistocene in southern Africa shows important developments in human subsistence economies. Zooarchaeological research indicates that early modern humans exploited a wide range of faunal species during the Middle Stone Age. Southern African societies developed flexible animal exploitation strategies that increased their resilience against the backdrop of drastic Pleistocene climatic changes. While megafauna are virtually absent, very large herbivores such as giant buffalo and dangerous prey such as suids were targeted with regularity. The study of faunal remains of such key sites as Border Cave, Blombos Cave, Klasies River, and Sibudu also played an important role in the development of overarching theories of the role of subsistence in the development of modern human behaviors through landmark studies by Richard Klein, Lewis ...
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Occupational intensity is a common theme in current research and has been linked to significant demographic trends in the past. The Late Pleistocene in the southern Cape may be especially important in understanding the impacts of... more
Occupational intensity is a common theme in current research and has been linked to significant demographic trends in the past. The Late Pleistocene in the southern Cape may be especially important in understanding the impacts of socio-demographic change given its association with developments in 'modern' human behaviour. The ubiquity of archaeo-faunal remains at Middle Stone Age (MSA) sites makes these convenient datasets for documenting site-specific occupational patterns. In this paper, zooarchaeological and taphonomic data are evaluated as proxies for occupational intensity, and occupational trends are explored in the southern Cape. Zooarchaeological and taphonomic data from three southern Cape MSA sites-Klipdrift Shelter, Blombos Cave and Pinnacle Point-are compared with previously determined higher and lower occupational levels within each site to assess the value of these proxies in tracking temporal changes in settlement intensity. The results show that, while frequencies of small mammals and larger ungulates often covary with occupational levels, these are problematic indicators because of the impact of carnivores. Similarly, faunal diversity generally corresponds well with increasing human occupations but is a problematic proxy because of the effects of animal activity. Anthropogenic bone surface modifications appear to be effective in tracking occupational patterns, with trampling a particularly useful indicator. Faunal and shellfish density, and transverse bone fracture patterns, are valuable proxies of occupational intensity at all sites. Generally, the data suggests close links between occupational intensity at these sites and marine transgressions. Evidence of increased exploitation of small game in the later MSA may imply periods of subsistence intensification possibly linked to increased demographic pressure during Marine Isotope Stage 4.
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Klasies River is a key site in understanding the behaviour of coastal foragers in the southern Cape of South Africa. Faunal remains from Klasies River, recovered from an almost 70,000 year sequence over the Late Pleistocene, are a... more
Klasies River is a key site in understanding the behaviour of coastal foragers in the southern Cape of South Africa. Faunal remains from Klasies River, recovered from an almost 70,000 year sequence over the Late Pleistocene, are a valuable dataset in investigating subsistence and occupational dynamics, yet few taphonomic studies have been conducted on the fauna from Klasies River. Here, the first taphonomic analyses of faunal remains from the Deacon and Wurz excavation is presented. The aim of this paper is to link occupational patterns during the Late Pleistocene at Klasies River with coastal ecology using taxonomic data from previous studies, and recently analysed taphonomic data. Taphonomic analyses of samples from the MSA II Lower, the Howiesons Poort and the MSA III periods were used to examine occupational intensity based on proportions of anthropogenic and zoogenic bone surface modification, trampling marks, transverse fractures and faunal density. Declining foraging efficiency or subsistence intensification was also investigated using indicators for expanded diet breadth (e.g., small fauna exploitation and increases in juveniles), more intensive marrow extraction and evidence for greater foraging distances. Herbivore functional types and dietary preferences were examined using taxonomic data and these show three main ecological phases at Klasies River: the MSA I; the upper and lower MSA II; and the HP and MSA III phases. Taphonomic data show increased occupational intensity in the MSA II
Lower, with subsistence intensification also more evident here than other
layers. Trampling data suggests that occupational intensity was greater in the earlier Howiesons Poort than later phase with little evidence of declining foraging efficiency then. The data indicate that, while humans contributed significantly to the MSA III assemblage, carnivores were the main accumulators here suggesting lower occupational intensity in this phase. The results of this study shows a possible link between increased
occupational intensity and declining foraging efficiency at Klasies River but larger taphonomic samples are needed to explore this relationship further.
Lower, with subsistence intensification also more evident here than other
layers. Trampling data suggests that occupational intensity was greater in the earlier Howiesons Poort than later phase with little evidence of declining foraging efficiency then. The data indicate that, while humans contributed significantly to the MSA III assemblage, carnivores were the main accumulators here suggesting lower occupational intensity in this phase. The results of this study shows a possible link between increased
occupational intensity and declining foraging efficiency at Klasies River but larger taphonomic samples are needed to explore this relationship further.
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Analyses of faunal remains are a key means of inferring palaeoenvironmental change. In this paper, the use of faunal remains as a proxy for environmental conditions from Marine Isotope Stage 6 to the Holocene in southern Africa is... more
Analyses of faunal remains are a key means of inferring palaeoenvironmental change. In this paper, the use of faunal remains as a proxy for environmental conditions from Marine Isotope Stage 6 to the Holocene in southern Africa is reviewed. The focus of this review is on large herbivore abundance and how these fluctuate temporally and regionally in accordance with palaeo-climatic shifts. Here, southern Africa is divided into four eco-regions loosely based on climatic, biotic and zoogeographic traits: the Cape Floristic Region, the arid and semi-arid region, the savanna and grassland region, and the wetter eastern region. The relative abundance of large herbivores within these regions are noted, and temporal trends are inferred. On the whole, most eco-regions maintain similar herbivore compositions over time showing the regional ecological resilience of these taxa to local-scale environmental change. Yet some changes in faunal frequencies are apparent. The Cape Floristic Region shows evidence of significant faunal turnover from the Late Pleistocene to the Holocene. Here, grazers are significantly more abundant during glacial periods, probably linked to the terrestrial expansion of the palaeo-Agulhas coastal plain. Shifts in ungulate abundance in the currently xeric central interior, also indicate wetter periods in the Pleistocene. Holocene faunas are generally similar to historic distributions but shifts between xeric and mesic periods are also evident.
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The archaeological assemblage recovered from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) levels in Blombos Cave, South Africa, is central to our understanding of the development of early modern humans. Here, we demonstrate that the cultural and... more
The archaeological assemblage recovered from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) levels in Blombos Cave, South Africa, is central to our understanding of the development of early modern humans. Here, we demonstrate that the cultural and technological innovations inferred from the Blombos Cave MSA record also correlate with significant shifts in site use and occupational intensity. Through a comprehensive geoarchaeological investigation of three MSA occupation phases, we identified distinct diachronic trends in the frequency of visits and the modes of occupation. During the earliest phases (ca. 88–82 ka), humans inhabited the cave for more extended periods, but cave visits were not frequent. During the later phases (ca. 77–72 ka), the cave was more regularly visited but for shorter periods each time. We argue that these changes in local occupational intensity, which also coincide with shifts in vegetation, sea levels, and subsistence, can best be explained by broader changes in hunter-gathere...
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The Still Bay (SB) and Howiesons Poort (HP) were two significant techno-complexes in the Middle Stone Age and key periods in the expression of behavioral complexity. In this study, we compare the recently excavated fauna from the SB... more
The Still Bay (SB) and Howiesons Poort (HP) were two significant techno-complexes in the Middle Stone Age and key periods in the expression of behavioral complexity. In this study, we compare the recently excavated fauna from the SB layers at Blombos Cave (BBC) with that from the HP levels at Klipdrift Shelter (KDS) in the southern Cape of South Africa. We consider our findings in the framework of recent models for early human subsistence behavior. In particular, we link our study with models involving resource intensification to examine whether foraging strategies in the HP were more or less intensive than those in the SB. Based on our criteria used to assess intensification-the exploitation of low-ranked prey, the processing of low-utility elements, transport decisions, and occupational intensity-intensive subsistence strategies are more evident at KDS than BBC. Our results suggest that low-ranked elements were processed more heavily and diet breath was broader at KDS than at BBC....
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Abstract The Howiesons Poort techno-complex of southern Africa was a particularly significant phase in the development of complex cognition in Homo sapiens and new sites are crucial to our understanding of this period. Here, we present... more
Abstract The Howiesons Poort techno-complex of southern Africa was a particularly significant phase in the development of complex cognition in Homo sapiens and new sites are crucial to our understanding of this period. Here, we present the results of a taphonomic and zooarchaeological analysis of Klipdrift Shelter to investigate subsistence strategies during the Late Pleistocene. In particular, we focus on the taphonomic history of the assemblage. Our analysis shows that the Klipdrift Shelter faunal assemblage is extensively fragmented; probably as a result of anthropogenic processing and post-depositional alteration. As a result, little significant information can be extrapolated from the analysis of skeletal-part abundance per layer. Human involvement in the accumulation of ungulate, small mammal, carnivore and tortoise remains is apparent in all layers. We show evidence of disarticulation, marrow extraction, skinning, filleting and carnivore consumption and document the processing of low-ranked game and elements. We also discuss the possibility of remote-capture technology at Klipdrift during the Howiesons Poort.
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ABSTRACT Zooarchaeological studies are generally based on analyses of faunal remains identified to family, genus or species. Middle Stone Age faunal assemblages, however, are usually highly fragmented with the majority of remains... more
ABSTRACT Zooarchaeological studies are generally based on analyses of faunal remains identified to family, genus or species. Middle Stone Age faunal assemblages, however, are usually highly fragmented with the majority of remains unidentified. We measured the cortical thickness of a sample of unidentified long bone fragments from the Middle Stone Age layers at Blombos Cave to investigate whether the unidentified specimens mimic the identified assemblage in terms of animal sizes represented.For reference samples, cortical thicknesses of goat (Capra hircus) bones from Gobabeb in Namibia were measured, in addition to the long bones from a sample of identified fauna from the M3 phase at Blombos Cave.Based on these comparative samples, cortical thickness measurements were used to group unidentified long bones from the M1 and upper and lower M2 phases into small, medium and large size classes. Our results suggest that medium-sized animals were more prevalent in the Blombos assemblage than indicated by the identified specimens.The size discrepancy between the identified and unidentified specimens may be the result of analytical or taphonomic processes, or human behaviour. The results also confirm previous analyses that larger animals were more common in the M1 than the upper and lower M2 at Blombos Cave.
Research Interests: Archaeology, Geology, Zooarchaeology, Biology, Taphonomy, and 13 moreCave, Fauna, Middle Stone Age, Stone Age, Artefact Assemblage Studies (archaeology), African Middle Stone Age, Genus, Cortical Thickness, Faunal Assemblage, Still Bay, Blombos Cave, Unidentified Faunal Remains, and Cortical Bone Thickness
Research Interests: Geography, Archaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology, Geology, Geochemistry, and 15 moreArchaeological Science, Southern Africa, Lithics, Prehistoric Art, Faunal Analysis, Modern human behaviour, Middle Stone Age, MSA, Homo Sapiens, CAPE, Red Ochre, Howiesons Poort, Coastal Subsistence, Engravings, and Engraved Ostrich Eggs
Abstract In this paper the new excavations at Klasies River main site are introduced and the first results presented and linked with previous work, establishing a baseline for future reporting. Data from the earliest phase of the SAS... more
Abstract In this paper the new excavations at Klasies River main site are introduced and the first results presented and linked with previous work, establishing a baseline for future reporting. Data from the earliest phase of the SAS member, comprising the basal SASU and SASL sub-members from caves 1 and 1A are discussed. A new U-Th date of 126.0 ± 1.5 ka on flowstone associated with fallen tufa material within the base of the SASU sub-member provides a maximum age for this part of the sequence. The lowermost SASU sub-member formed most likely around 100 000 years ago during a period associated with increased precipitation whereas the age of the underlying SASL sub-member is uncertain. The SASU sub-member contains in situ deposits that include hearths, in contrast to the underlying SASL sub-member that was subject to post depositional disturbance. Despite the different site formation processes the lithic industry of both sub-members is similar although quartz utilization is somewhat more prominent in the SASL sub-member. The main reduction strategy involves a parallel unidirectional convergent method to produce quartzite blade and point blanks with rare retouch. Relatively more browsing fauna and riparian species, indicating more closed environments, occur in the SASU layers. The older SASL sub-member, not previously described as an independent unit, contains relatively more grazers suggesting drier and more open habitats. It is vital to link evidence from coastal sites such as Klasies River to data from the interior to promote insight into modern human origins from a wider landscape perspective. The work of James Brink, to whom this paper is dedicated, is invaluable in developing this connection.
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The aim of this investigation was to explore the relationship between the unidentified and identified fauna from the Still Bay period at Blombos Cave between ca. 77 and 72 ka. The size, breakage patterns and surface modifications of... more
The aim of this investigation was to explore the relationship between the unidentified and identified fauna from the Still Bay period at Blombos Cave between ca. 77 and 72 ka. The size, breakage patterns and surface modifications of unidentified long bone fragments from the M1 and upper M2 phases were analysed. The results of the analyses were then compared to a sample of faunal remains identified by Klein (Henshilwood et al. 2001b) and Thompson (2008) from the Still Bay layers at Blombos Cave. The length of each fragment was measured to ascertain the degree of fragmentation of the assemblage. Long bone fragments generally become slightly shorter with increasing depth. This may be because smaller fauna are relatively more prevalent in the deeper layers. Cortical thickness of the bone fragments was measured and grouped into small, medium and large categories. These categories were correlated to Brain‟s (1974a) bovid size classes to investigate whether the unidentified faunal remains ...
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This study sought to understand the archaeology of the Zimbabwe Culture capital of Khami through synchronic and diachronic analyses of its material culture. The research employed a number of methodological approaches that included a... more
This study sought to understand the archaeology of the Zimbabwe Culture capital of Khami through synchronic and diachronic analyses of its material culture. The research employed a number of methodological approaches that included a review of historic documents, survey and mapping, excavations, analysis of museum collections and artefact studies in order to collect datasets from various sections of the site, including the walled and the nonwalled areas. The main conclusions reached are that there is a great deal of similarity in material culture distribution across the whole site. Analysis of objects by stratigraphic sequence exposes continuity and change in local and imported objects. Drystone wall architectural data suggest that the site was constructed over a long period, motivated by a number of expansionary factors. The study confirms that Khami began as a fully developed cultural unit with no developmental trajectory of the kind recorded at Mapungubwe or Great Zimbabwe where earlier ceramic units influenced later ones. Consequently, this study cautiously suggests that Khami represents a continuity from Woolandale chiefdoms that settled in the southwestern parts of Zimbabwe and adjacent areas of Botswana. On the basis of chronological and material culture evidence, Khami is unlikely to have emerged out of Great Zimbabwe. However, more research is essential to firm up these emerging conclusions and to understand better the chronological and spatial relationships between not just Woolandale and Khami sites, but also between Khami and the multiple Khami-type sites scattered across southern Zambezia.
Research Interests: Geography and Archaeology
Occupational intensity is a common theme in current research and has been linked to significant demographic trends in the past. The Late Pleistocene in the southern Cape may be especially important in understanding the impacts of... more
Occupational intensity is a common theme in current research and has been linked to significant demographic trends in the past. The Late Pleistocene in the southern Cape may be especially important in understanding the impacts of socio-demographic change given its association with developments in 'modern' human behaviour. The ubiquity of archaeo-faunal remains at Middle Stone Age (MSA) sites makes these convenient datasets for documenting site-specific occupational patterns. In this paper, zooarchaeological and taphonomic data are evaluated as proxies for occupational intensity, and occupational trends are explored in the southern Cape. Zooarchaeological and taphonomic data from three southern Cape MSA sites-Klipdrift Shelter, Blombos Cave and Pinnacle Point-are compared with previously determined higher and lower occupational levels within each site to assess the value of these proxies in tracking temporal changes in settlement intensity. The results show that, while freque...
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Analyses of faunal remains are a key means of inferring palaeoenvironmental change. In this paper, the use of faunal remains as a proxy for environmental conditions from Marine Isotope Stage 6 to the Holocene in southern Africa is... more
Analyses of faunal remains are a key means of inferring palaeoenvironmental change. In this paper, the use of faunal remains as a proxy for environmental conditions from Marine Isotope Stage 6 to the Holocene in southern Africa is reviewed. The focus of this review is on large herbivore abundance and how these fluctuate temporally and regionally in accordance with palaeo-climatic shifts. Here, southern Africa is divided into four eco-regions loosely based on climatic, biotic and zoogeographic traits: the Cape Floristic Region, the arid and semi-arid region, the savanna and grassland region, and the wetter eastern region. The relative abundance of large herbivores within these regions are noted, and temporal trends are inferred. On the whole, most eco-regions maintain similar herbivore compositions over time showing the regional ecological resilience of these taxa to local-scale environmental change. Yet some changes in faunal frequencies are apparent. The Cape Floristic Region shows evidence of significant faunal turnover from the Late Pleistocene to the Holocene. Here, grazers are significantly more abundant during glacial periods, probably linked to the terrestrial expansion of the palaeo-Agulhas coastal plain. Shifts in ungulate abundance in the currently xeric central interior, also indicate wetter periods in the Pleistocene. Holocene faunas are generally similar to historic distributions but shifts between xeric and mesic periods are also evident.
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The archaeological assemblage recovered from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) levels in Blombos Cave, South Africa, is central to our understanding of the development of early modern humans. Here, we demonstrate that the cultural and... more
The archaeological assemblage recovered from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) levels in Blombos Cave, South Africa, is central to our understanding of the development of early modern humans. Here, we demonstrate that the cultural and technological innovations inferred from the Blombos Cave MSA record also correlate with significant shifts in site use and occupational intensity. Through a comprehensive geoarchaeological investigation of three MSA occupation phases, we identified distinct diachronic trends in the frequency of visits and the modes of occupation. During the earliest phases (ca. 88-82 ka), humans inhabited the cave for more extended periods, but cave visits were not frequent. During the later phases (ca. 77-72 ka), the cave was more regularly visited but for shorter periods each time. We argue that these changes in local occupational intensity, which also coincide with shifts in vegetation, sea levels, and subsistence, can best be explained by broader changes in huntergatherer mobility strategies and occupation patterns. Fundamental changes in regional settlement dynamics during Marine Oxygen Isotope Stages 5b-4 would have significantly affected the nature and frequency of social interaction within and between prehistoric populations living in the southern Cape, a scenario that ultimately may explain some of the social and technological advances that occurred there during this time frame.
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The bone point (SAM 42160) from >60 ka deposits at Klasies River Main Site, South Africa, is reassessed. We clarify the stratigraphic integrity of SAM 42160 and confirm its Middle Stone Age provenience. We find evidence that... more
The bone point (SAM 42160) from >60 ka deposits at Klasies River Main Site, South Africa, is reassessed. We clarify the stratigraphic integrity of SAM 42160 and confirm its Middle Stone Age provenience. We find evidence that indicates the point was hafted and partially coated in an adhesive substance. Internal fractures are consistent with stresses occasioned by high-velocity, longitudinal impact. SAM 42160, like its roughly contemporaneous counterpart, farther north at Sibudu Cave, likely functioned as a hafted arrowhead. We highlight a growing body of evidence for bow hunting at this early period and explore bow-and-arrow technology might imply about the cognition of people in the Middle Stone Age who were able to conceive, construct and use it.
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In this paper the new excavations at Klasies River main site are introduced and the first results presented and linked with previous work, establishing a baseline for future reporting. Data from the earliest phase of the SAS member,... more
In this paper the new excavations at Klasies River main site are introduced and the first results presented and linked with previous work, establishing a baseline for future reporting. Data from the earliest phase of the SAS member, comprising the basal SASU and SASL sub-members from caves 1 and 1A are discussed. A new U-Th date of 126.0 ± 1.5 ka on flowstone associated with fallen tufa material within the base of the SASU sub-member provides a maximum age for this part of the sequence. The lowermost SASU sub-member formed most likely around 100 000 years ago during a period associated with increased precipitation whereas the age of the underlying SASL sub-member is uncertain. The SASU sub-member contains in situ deposits that include hearths, in contrast to the underlying SASL sub-member that was subject to post depositional disturbance. Despite the different site formation processes the lithic industry of both sub-members is similar although quartz utilization is somewhat more pro...
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The Howiesons Poort, characterised by sophisticated lithic technologies and evidence of innovative behaviours, was a significant cultural phase in southern Africa during Marine Isotope Stage 4. It also coincided with substantial... more
The Howiesons Poort, characterised by sophisticated lithic technologies and evidence of innovative behaviours, was a significant cultural phase in southern Africa during Marine Isotope Stage 4. It also coincided with substantial palaeoenvironmental and possible demographic changes in the southern Cape of South Africa, especially with regard to the shifting palaeo-coastline off the Agulhas Bank. The newly-excavated Klipdrift Shelter in the southern Cape presents a rare opportunity to compare faunal, lithic and palaeoenvironmental evidence from a single Howiesons Poort site along the present-day southern coast of South Africa. Here, we use faunal data from Klipdrift Shelter to explore the relationship between occupational intensity, subsistence behaviour and environment in the southern Cape during the Howiesons Poort period. Our results suggest a shift from a mixed terrain/ browse-dominated environment during the earlier Howiesons Poort to open grasslands in the mid–later Howiesons Poort. This environmental shift corresponds to potential changes in occupational intensity or frequency throughout the sequence with evidence of increased occupations associated with grassier environments. Aspects of the cultural sequence, for example raw material procurement strategies, may be associated with shifting environmental conditions. The faunal evidence suggests links between occupation, environment and prey selection at Klipdrift. This raises interesting questions about the interplay between population density and the environment of the southern Cape, and its influence on subsistence behaviour during Marine Isotope Stage 4.
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Analyses of faunal remains are a key means of inferring palaeoenvironmental change. In this paper, the use of faunal remains as a proxy for environmental conditions from Marine Isotope Stage 6 to the Holocene in southern Africa is... more
Analyses of faunal remains are a key means of inferring palaeoenvironmental change. In this paper, the use of faunal remains as a proxy for environmental conditions from Marine Isotope Stage 6 to the Holocene in southern Africa is reviewed. The focus of this review is on large herbivore abundance and how these fluctuate temporally and regionally in accordance with palaeo-climatic shifts. Here, southern Africa is divided into four eco-regions loosely based on climatic, biotic and zoogeographic traits: the Cape Floristic Region, the arid and semi-arid region, the savanna and grassland region, and the wetter eastern region. The relative abundance of large herbivores within these regions are noted, and temporal trends are inferred. On the whole, most eco-regions maintain similar herbivore compositions over time showing the regional ecological resilience of these taxa to local-scale environmental change. Yet some changes in faunal frequencies are apparent. The Cape Floristic Region shows...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Occupational intensity is a common theme in current research and has been linked to significant demographic trends in the past. The Late Pleistocene in the southern Cape may be especially important in understanding the impacts of... more
Occupational intensity is a common theme in current research and has been linked to significant demographic trends in the past. The Late Pleistocene in the southern Cape may be especially important in understanding the impacts of socio-demographic change given its association with developments in 'modern' human behaviour. The ubiquity of archaeo-faunal remains at Middle Stone Age (MSA) sites makes these convenient datasets for documenting site-specific occupational patterns. In this paper, zooarchaeological and taphonomic data are evaluated as proxies for occupational intensity, and occupational trends are explored in the southern Cape. Zooarchaeological and taphonomic data from three southern Cape MSA sites-Klipdrift Shelter, Blombos Cave and Pinnacle Point-are compared with previously determined higher and lower occupational levels within each site to assess the value of these proxies in tracking temporal changes in settlement intensity. The results show that, while frequencies of small mammals and larger ungulates often covary with occupational levels, these are problematic indicators because of the impact of carnivores. Similarly, faunal diversity generally corresponds well with increasing human occupations but is a problematic proxy because of the effects of animal activity. Anthropogenic bone surface modifications appear to be effective in tracking occupational patterns, with trampling a particularly useful indicator. Faunal and shellfish density, and transverse bone fracture patterns, are valuable proxies of occupational intensity at all sites. Generally, the data suggests close links between occupational intensity at these sites and marine transgressions. Evidence of increased exploitation of small game in the later MSA may imply periods of subsistence intensification possibly linked to increased demographic pressure during Marine Isotope Stage 4.
Research Interests:
The archaeological assemblage recovered from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) levels in Blombos Cave, South Africa, is central to our understanding of the development of early modern humans. Here, we demonstrate that the cultural and... more
The archaeological assemblage recovered from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) levels in Blombos Cave, South Africa, is central to our understanding of the development of early modern humans. Here, we demonstrate that the cultural and technological innovations inferred from the Blombos Cave MSA record also correlate with significant shifts in site use and occupational intensity. Through a comprehensive geoarchaeological investigation of three MSA occupation phases, we identified distinct diachronic trends in the frequency of visits and the modes of occupation. During the earliest phases (ca. 88-82 ka), humans inhabited the cave for more extended periods, but cave visits were not frequent. During the later phases (ca. 77-72 ka), the cave was more regularly visited but for shorter periods each time. We argue that these changes in local occupational intensity, which also coincide with shifts in vegetation, sea levels, and subsistence, can best be explained by broader changes in hunter-gatherer mobility strategies and occupation patterns. Fundamental changes in regional settlement dynamics during Marine Oxygen Isotope Stages 5b-4 would have significantly affected the nature and frequency of social interaction within and between prehistoric populations living in the southern Cape, a scenario that ultimately may explain some of the social and technological advances that occurred there during this time frame.
Research Interests:
Given the large number of hominin and archaeological remains the site has yielded, Klasies River has contributed significantly to our understanding of how humans developed and behaved during the Middle Stone Age. Its extensive... more
Given the large number of hominin and archaeological remains the site has yielded, Klasies River has contributed significantly to our understanding of how humans developed and behaved during the Middle Stone Age. Its extensive occupational sequence and the abundance of faunal remains recovered from the deposits also make it an important site in exploring palaeoenvironmental change during the Late Pleistocene. The mammalian fauna from the over 70 000 year long sequence at Klasies River possibly extending from MIS 6 to 3 are useful in positioning the evolution of complex human behaviour within an environmental context. Here, we use the large mammal fauna excavated in the 1980s and 1990s from Klasies River Cave 1 and 1A to test links between ungulate diversity and palaeoclimatic change in the southeastern Cape of South Africa. Fauna from extended Pleistocene sequences in the southeastern Cape are relatively rare and collections such as these are important proxies for assessing environmental change in this particular region. Our analysis indicates that the proportion of ungulate grazers, browsers and mixed-feeders shifts in accordance with glacial/interglacial fluctuations. We find significant correlations between grazer proportions and ungulate diversity through the sequence which may be linked to the effect of marine regressions on the landscape or shifting moisture availability. We compare the Klasies River data set with a selection of Middle Stone Age sites in the southern Cape. Our analysis suggests that primary productivity is greater along the eastern southern Cape than the western region. This study has broad implications for understanding the relationship between expanding grasslands and ungulate richness during the Late Pleistocene.
Research Interests:
Klasies River is arguably one of the most informative Middle Stone Age sites in Africa. Its extensive occupational sequence and the large quantity of faunal material, lithic artefacts, and Homo sapiens remains makes this a key site to... more
Klasies River is arguably one of the most informative Middle Stone Age sites in Africa. Its extensive occupational sequence and the large quantity of faunal material, lithic artefacts, and Homo sapiens remains makes this a key site to explore modern human evolution. Two major excavations of the Klasies sequence-the first by Singer and Wymer in 1967/68, and later by Hilary Deacon in the 1980s and 1990s-yielded a vast quantity of faunal material. However, interpretation of the Singer and Wymer fauna has been marred by flawed collection techniques. In contrast, all faunal remains from the Deacon collection were recovered and analysed with the potential to provide less biased results. Here, we report on the fauna from the Deacon assemblage, placing particular emphasis on the description of the material. We find that the 'Klasies pattern'-or an ungulate skeletal-part profile dominated by skulls and feet for larger bovids, with a more equitable skeletal-part distribution for smaller bovids-is not represented in the Deacon collection. The Klasies pattern was therefore likely caused by sampling bias. Generally, bovid remains dominate the assemblage, while seal and hyrax are the most common identified taxa. The palaeoenvironmental implication of the material is briefly discussed, which confirms the results from Klein's (1976) analysis of the Singer and Wymer collection.
Research Interests:
Zooarchaeological data offer a unique opportunity to examine both palaeoenvironmental and behavioural trends using single datasets. In this study, we combine taphonomic and palaeoecological analyses of the faunal remains from recent... more
Zooarchaeological data offer a unique opportunity to examine both palaeoenvironmental and behavioural trends using single datasets. In this study, we combine taphonomic and palaeoecological analyses of the faunal remains from recent excavations from the Still Bay layers at Blombos Cave to explore subsistence behaviour during this significant period in behavioural modernity. The c. 77-72 ka Still Bay is linked to innovative technology and the expression of complex cognition but is often lumped together as a homogenous entity. Here, we assess subsistence strategies within the Still Bay at Blombos Cave by examining zooarchaeological data from each layer. We investigate temporal changes during this techno-complex in an attempt to place subsistence behaviour within a paleoecological context. Our results show significant differences in surface modification frequencies between the early and middle/later Still Bay phases. Large and medium-sized ungulates were processed differently and filleting was probably an important activity. The data show that changes in shellfish density from the early to later Still Bay correspond to changes in ungulate representation. This may be due to changing environmental conditions around Blombos or shifting foraging strategies. This shift may also be associated with transport decisions for larger mammals. We discuss mobility patterns and the connection between subsistence strategies, environmental change and occupational intensity during the Still Bay levels at Blombos Cave.
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Demography probably had a significant influence on the transmission of cultural innovation during the late Pleistocene. In enclosed sites such as rockshelters, trampling marks are likely direct evidence for human occupations and can... more
Demography probably had a significant influence
on the transmission of cultural innovation during
the late Pleistocene. In enclosed sites such as
rockshelters, trampling marks are likely direct evidence
for human occupations and can possibly be used to infer
occupational patterns. In this study, we explore trampling
modification as a proxy for occupational intensity.
We examined trampling data at the Middle Stone Age
site of Blombos Cave in South Africa to investigate
whether these marks may inform on occupational intensity
during the Still Bay period—a significant era for the
development of behavioural modernity. Trampling is
defined by pitting, scratches, abrasion and linear marks.
These marks were then compared to other taphonomic
proxies (e.g., faunal density per volume, transverse fractures,
non-anthropogenic modification) to explore the
relationships between these indicators. Our results indicate
that trampling modifications can provide information
on a site’s occupational history and that the data
indicate that there are two phases within the Blombos
sequence showing more intense/frequency occupations,
corresponding to the early and middle Still Bay deposits.
on the transmission of cultural innovation during
the late Pleistocene. In enclosed sites such as
rockshelters, trampling marks are likely direct evidence
for human occupations and can possibly be used to infer
occupational patterns. In this study, we explore trampling
modification as a proxy for occupational intensity.
We examined trampling data at the Middle Stone Age
site of Blombos Cave in South Africa to investigate
whether these marks may inform on occupational intensity
during the Still Bay period—a significant era for the
development of behavioural modernity. Trampling is
defined by pitting, scratches, abrasion and linear marks.
These marks were then compared to other taphonomic
proxies (e.g., faunal density per volume, transverse fractures,
non-anthropogenic modification) to explore the
relationships between these indicators. Our results indicate
that trampling modifications can provide information
on a site’s occupational history and that the data
indicate that there are two phases within the Blombos
sequence showing more intense/frequency occupations,
corresponding to the early and middle Still Bay deposits.
Research Interests:
In this paper the new excavations at Klasies River main site are introduced and the first results presented and linked with previous work, establishing a baseline for future reporting. Data from the earliest phase of the SAS member,... more
In this paper the new excavations at Klasies River main site are introduced and the first results presented and linked with previous work, establishing a baseline for future reporting. Data from the earliest phase of the SAS member, comprising the basal SASU and SASL sub-members from caves 1 and 1A are discussed. A new U-Th date of 126.0 ± 1.5 ka on flowstone associated with fallen tufa material within the base of the SASU sub-member provides a maximum age for this part of the sequence. The lowermost SASU sub-member formed most likely around 100 000 years ago during a period associated with increased precipitation whereas the age of the underlying SASL sub-member is uncertain. The SASU sub-member contains in situ deposits that include hearths, in contrast to the underlying SASL sub-member that was subject to post depositional disturbance. Despite the different site formation processes the lithic industry of both sub-members is similar although quartz utilization is somewhat more prominent in the SASL sub-member. The main reduction strategy involves a parallel uni-directional convergent method to produce quartzite blade and point blanks with rare retouch. Relatively more browsing fauna and riparian species, indicating more closed environments, occur in the SASU layers. The older SASL sub-member, not previously described as an independent unit, contains relatively more grazers suggesting drier and more open habitats. It is vital to link evidence from coastal sites such as Klasies River to data from the interior to promote insight into modern human origins from a wider landscape perspective. The work of James Brink, to whom this paper is dedicated, is invaluable in developing this connection.
Research Interests:
The Still Bay (SB) and Howiesons Poort (HP) were two significant techno-complexes in the Middle Stone Age and key periods in the expression of behavioral complexity. In this study, we compare the recently excavated fauna from the SB... more
The Still Bay (SB) and Howiesons Poort (HP) were two significant techno-complexes in the Middle Stone Age and key periods in the expression of behavioral complexity. In this study, we compare the recently excavated fauna from the SB layers at Blombos Cave (BBC) with that from the HP levels at Klipdrift Shelter (KDS) in the southern Cape of South Africa. We consider our findings in the framework of recent models for early human subsistence behavior. In particular, we link our study with models involving resource intensification to examine whether foraging strategies in the HP were more or less intensive than those in the SB. Based on our criteria used to assess intensificationdthe exploitation of low-ranked prey, the processing of low-utility elements, transport decisions, and occupational intensitydintensive subsistence strategies are more evident at KDS than BBC. Our results suggest that low-ranked elements were processed more heavily and diet breath was broader at KDS than at BBC. However, foraging ranges may have been more extensive at BBC than at KDS. Taphonomic data also suggests that the SB at BBC was a low-intensity, sporadically occupied period in contrast to the high-intensity occupations during the HP at KDS. We argue that this may be related to differences in mobility and residential patterns between these techno-complexes.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The Middle Stone Age (MSA) of southern Africa, and in particular its Still Bay and Howie-sons Poort lithic traditions, represents a period of dramatic subsistence, cultural, and technological innovation by our species, Homo sapiens.... more
The Middle Stone Age (MSA) of southern Africa, and in particular its Still Bay and Howie-sons Poort lithic traditions, represents a period of dramatic subsistence, cultural, and technological innovation by our species, Homo sapiens. Climate change has frequently been postulated as a primary driver of the appearance of these innovative behaviours, with researchers invoking either climate instability as a reason for the development of buffering mechanisms, or environmentally stable refugia as providing a stable setting for experimentation. Testing these alternative models has proved intractable, however, as existing regional palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental records remain spatially, stratigraphically, and chronologically disconnected from the archaeological record. Here we report high-resolution records of environmental shifts based on stable carbon and oxygen isotopes in ostrich eggshell (OES) fragments, faunal remains, and shellfish assemblages excavated from two key MSA archaeological sequences, Blombos Cave and Klipdrift Shelter. We compare these records with archaeological material remains in the same strata. The results from both sites, spanning the periods 98–73 ka and 72–59 ka, respectively, show significant changes in vegetation, aridity, rainfall seasonality, and sea temperature in the vicinity of the sites during periods of human occupation. While these changes clearly influenced human subsistence strategies, we find that the remarkable cultural and technological innovations seen in the sites cannot be linked directly to climate shifts. Our results demonstrate the PLOS ONE | Data Availability Statement: Due to permit restrictions, photographs of the OES specimens sampled are available from the authors, following a review process by the Curator of the Iziko Museum, Wendy Black. All faunal and shellfish samples listed by quadrant and layer, respectively, are available in the Supporting Information S2 File. Further information can be obtained from JR, SB and KLvN.
Research Interests:
The Middle Stone Age (MSA) of southern Africa, and in particular its Still Bay and Howie-sons Poort lithic traditions, represents a period of dramatic subsistence, cultural, and technological innovation by our species, Homo sapiens.... more
The Middle Stone Age (MSA) of southern Africa, and in particular its Still Bay and Howie-sons Poort lithic traditions, represents a period of dramatic subsistence, cultural, and technological innovation by our species, Homo sapiens. Climate change has frequently been postulated as a primary driver of the appearance of these innovative behaviours, with researchers invoking either climate instability as a reason for the development of buffering mechanisms, or environmentally stable refugia as providing a stable setting for experimentation. Testing these alternative models has proved intractable, however, as existing regional palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental records remain spatially, stratigraphically, and chronologically disconnected from the archaeological record. Here we report high-resolution records of environmental shifts based on stable carbon and oxygen isotopes in ostrich eggshell (OES) fragments, faunal remains, and shellfish assemblages excavated from two key MSA archaeological sequences, Blombos Cave and Klipdrift Shelter. We compare these records with archaeological material remains in the same strata. The results from both sites, spanning the periods 98–73 ka and 72–59 ka, respectively, show significant changes in vegetation, aridity, rainfall seasonality, and sea temperature in the vicinity of the sites during periods of human occupation. While these changes clearly influenced human subsistence strategies, we find that the remarkable cultural and technological innovations seen in the sites cannot be linked directly to climate shifts. Our results demonstrate the PLOS ONE | Data Availability Statement: Due to permit restrictions, photographs of the OES specimens sampled are available from the authors, following a review process by the Curator of the Iziko Museum, Wendy Black. All faunal and shellfish samples listed by quadrant and layer, respectively, are available in the Supporting Information S2 File. Further information can be obtained from JR, SB and KLvN.
Research Interests:
The Howiesons Poort, characterised by sophisticated lithic technologies and evidence of innovative behaviours, was a significant cultural phase in southern Africa during Marine Isotope Stage 4. It also coincided with substantial... more
The Howiesons Poort, characterised by sophisticated lithic technologies and evidence of innovative behaviours, was a significant cultural phase in southern Africa during Marine Isotope Stage 4. It also coincided with substantial palaeoenvironmental and possible demographic changes in the southern Cape of South Africa, especially with regard to the shifting palaeo-coastline off the Agulhas Bank. The newly-excavated Klipdrift Shelter in the southern Cape presents a rare opportunity to compare faunal, lithic and palaeoenvironmental evidence from a single Howiesons Poort site along the present-day southern coast of South Africa. Here, we use faunal data from Klipdrift Shelter to explore the relationship between occupational intensity, subsistence behaviour and environment in the southern Cape during the Howiesons Poort period. Our results suggest a shift from a mixed terrain/ browse-dominated environment during the earlier Howiesons Poort to open grasslands in the mid–later Howiesons Poort. This environmental shift corresponds to potential changes in occupational intensity or frequency throughout the sequence with evidence of increased occupations associated with grassier environments. Aspects of the cultural sequence, for example raw material procurement strategies, may be associated with shifting environmental conditions. The faunal evidence suggests links between occupation, environment and prey selection at Klipdrift. This raises interesting questions about the interplay between population density and the environment of the southern Cape, and its influence on subsistence behaviour during Marine Isotope Stage 4.
Research Interests:
The Howiesons Poort techno-complex of southern Africa was a particularly significant phase in the development of complex cognition in Homo sapiens and new sites are crucial to our understanding of this period. Here, we present the results... more
The Howiesons Poort techno-complex of southern Africa was a particularly significant phase in the development of complex cognition in Homo sapiens and new sites are crucial to our understanding of this period. Here, we present the results of a taphonomic and zooarchaeological analysis of Klipdrift Shelter to investigate subsistence strategies during the Late Pleistocene. In particular, we focus on the tapho-nomic history of the assemblage. Our analysis shows that the Klipdrift Shelter faunal assemblage is extensively fragmented; probably as a result of anthropogenic processing and post-depositional alteration. As a result, little significant information can be extrapolated from the analysis of skeletal-part abundance per layer. Human involvement in the accumulation of ungulate, small mammal, carnivore and tortoise remains is apparent in all layers. We show evidence of disarticulation, marrow extraction, skinning, filleting and carnivore consumption and document the processing of low-ranked game and elements. We also discuss the possibility of remote-capture technology at Klipdrift during the Howiesons Poort.
Research Interests:
The Howiesons Poort, characterised by sophisticated lithic technologies and evidence of innovative behaviours, was a significant cultural phase in southern Africa during Marine Isotope Stage 4. It also coincided with substantial... more
The Howiesons Poort, characterised by sophisticated lithic technologies and evidence of innovative behaviours, was a significant cultural phase in southern Africa during Marine Isotope Stage 4. It also coincided with substantial palaeoenvironmental and possible demographic changes in the southern Cape of South Africa, especially with regard to the shifting palaeo-coastline off the Agulhas Bank. The newly-excavated Klipdrift Shelter in the southern Cape presents a rare opportunity to compare faunal, lithic and palaeoenvironmental evidence from a single Howiesons Poort site along the present-day southern coast of South Africa. Here, we use faunal data from Klipdrift Shelter to explore the relationship between occupational intensity, subsistence behaviour and environment in the southern Cape during the Howiesons Poort period. Our results suggest a shift from a mixed terrain/ browse-dominated environment during the earlier Howiesons Poort to open grasslands in the mid–later Howiesons Poort. This environmental shift corresponds to potential changes in occupational intensity or frequency throughout the sequence with evidence of increased occupations associated with grassier environments. Aspects of the cultural sequence, for example raw material procurement strategies, may be associated with shifting environmental conditions. The faunal evidence suggests links between occupation, environment and prey selection at Klipdrift. This raises interesting questions about the interplay between population density and the environment of the southern Cape, and its influence on subsistence behaviour during Marine Isotope Stage 4.
Research Interests:
The Howiesons Poort techno-complex of southern Africa was a particularly significant phase in the development of complex cognition in Homo sapiens and new sites are crucial to our understanding of this period. Here, we present the results... more
The Howiesons Poort techno-complex of southern Africa was a particularly significant phase in the development of complex cognition in Homo sapiens and new sites are crucial to our understanding of this period. Here, we present the results of a taphonomic and zooarchaeological analysis of Klipdrift Shelter
to investigate subsistence strategies during the Late Pleistocene. In particular, we focus on the taphonomic history of the assemblage. Our analysis shows that the Klipdrift Shelter faunal assemblage is extensively fragmented; probably as a result of anthropogenic processing and post-depositional alteration. As a result, little significant information can be extrapolated from the analysis of skeletal-part abundance per layer. Human involvement in the accumulation of ungulate, small mammal, carnivore and tortoise remains is apparent in all layers. We show evidence of disarticulation, marrow extraction,
skinning, filleting and carnivore consumption and document the processing of low-ranked game and elements. We also discuss the possibility of remote-capture technology at Klipdrift during the Howiesons Poort.
to investigate subsistence strategies during the Late Pleistocene. In particular, we focus on the taphonomic history of the assemblage. Our analysis shows that the Klipdrift Shelter faunal assemblage is extensively fragmented; probably as a result of anthropogenic processing and post-depositional alteration. As a result, little significant information can be extrapolated from the analysis of skeletal-part abundance per layer. Human involvement in the accumulation of ungulate, small mammal, carnivore and tortoise remains is apparent in all layers. We show evidence of disarticulation, marrow extraction,
skinning, filleting and carnivore consumption and document the processing of low-ranked game and elements. We also discuss the possibility of remote-capture technology at Klipdrift during the Howiesons Poort.
Research Interests:
Zooarchaeological studies are generally based on analyses of faunal remains identified to family, genus or species. Middle Stone Age faunal assemblages, however, are usually highly fragmented with the majority of remains unidentified. We... more
Zooarchaeological studies are generally based on analyses of faunal remains identified to family, genus or species.
Middle Stone Age faunal assemblages, however, are usually highly fragmented with the majority of remains unidentified.
We measured the cortical thickness of a sample of unidentified long bone fragments from the Middle Stone Age
layers at Blombos Cave to investigate whether the unidentified specimens mimic the identified assemblage in terms of
animal sizes represented.For reference samples, cortical thicknesses of goat (Capra hircus) bones from Gobabeb in
Namibia were measured, in addition to the long bones from a sample of identified fauna from the M3 phase at
Blombos Cave.Based on these comparative samples, cortical thickness measurements were used to group unidentified
long bones from the M1 and upper and lower M2 phases into small, medium and large size classes. Our results
suggest that medium-sized animals were more prevalent in the Blombos assemblage than indicated by the identified
specimens.The size discrepancy between the identified and unidentified specimens may be the result of analytical or
taphonomic processes, or human behaviour. The results also confirm previous analyses that larger animals were
more common in the M1 than the upper and lower M2 at Blombos Cave.
Middle Stone Age faunal assemblages, however, are usually highly fragmented with the majority of remains unidentified.
We measured the cortical thickness of a sample of unidentified long bone fragments from the Middle Stone Age
layers at Blombos Cave to investigate whether the unidentified specimens mimic the identified assemblage in terms of
animal sizes represented.For reference samples, cortical thicknesses of goat (Capra hircus) bones from Gobabeb in
Namibia were measured, in addition to the long bones from a sample of identified fauna from the M3 phase at
Blombos Cave.Based on these comparative samples, cortical thickness measurements were used to group unidentified
long bones from the M1 and upper and lower M2 phases into small, medium and large size classes. Our results
suggest that medium-sized animals were more prevalent in the Blombos assemblage than indicated by the identified
specimens.The size discrepancy between the identified and unidentified specimens may be the result of analytical or
taphonomic processes, or human behaviour. The results also confirm previous analyses that larger animals were
more common in the M1 than the upper and lower M2 at Blombos Cave.
Research Interests:
Surveys for archaeological sites in the De Hoop Nature Reserve, southern Cape, South Africa resulted in the discovery of a cave complex comprising two locations, Klipdrift Cave and Klipdrift Shelter. Excavations commenced in 2010 with... more
Surveys for archaeological sites in the De Hoop Nature Reserve, southern Cape, South Africa resulted in the discovery of a cave complex comprising two locations, Klipdrift Cave and Klipdrift Shelter. Excavations commenced in 2010 with Later Stone Age deposits initially being recovered at the former site and Middle Stone Age deposits at the latter. The lithic component at Klipdrift Shelter is consistent with the Howiesons Poort, a technological complex recorded at a number of archaeological sites in southern
Africa. The age for these deposits at Klipdrift Shelter, obtained by single grain optically stimulated luminescence, spans the period 65.5 4.8 ka to 59.4 4.6 ka. Controlled and accurate excavations of the discrete layers have resulted in the recovery of a hominin molar, marine shells, terrestrial fauna, floral remains, organic materials, hearths, lithics, ochre, and ostrich eggshell. More than 95 pieces of the latter, distributed across the layers, are engraved with diverse, abstract patterns. The preliminary results from
Klipdrift Shelter presented in this report provide new insights into the Howiesons Poort in this subregion and contribute further to ongoing knowledge about the complex behaviours of early Homo sapiens in southern Africa. Excavations at the Klipdrift Complex will continue in the future.
Africa. The age for these deposits at Klipdrift Shelter, obtained by single grain optically stimulated luminescence, spans the period 65.5 4.8 ka to 59.4 4.6 ka. Controlled and accurate excavations of the discrete layers have resulted in the recovery of a hominin molar, marine shells, terrestrial fauna, floral remains, organic materials, hearths, lithics, ochre, and ostrich eggshell. More than 95 pieces of the latter, distributed across the layers, are engraved with diverse, abstract patterns. The preliminary results from
Klipdrift Shelter presented in this report provide new insights into the Howiesons Poort in this subregion and contribute further to ongoing knowledge about the complex behaviours of early Homo sapiens in southern Africa. Excavations at the Klipdrift Complex will continue in the future.