Two methods on one stone: Integrating visual and analytical techniques to clarify lithic raw material utilization in the Middle and Later Stone Age at Umhlatuzana rockshelter (South Africa)

Journal of Archaeological Science Reports, vol. 48, pp. 103890

Abstract

We develop a study protocol to efficiently and accurately identify the raw material categories constituting the lithic assemblages at Umhlatuzana rockshelter, South Africa. We combine visual and analytical methods to establish a raw material database and to provide a more accurate insight into raw material selection during the Pleistocene Middle and Later Stone Age occupational sequence of Umhlatuzana. The protocol combines petrological properties (as studied on micromorphological samples), elemental composition of the specimens (as measured with p-XRF) and visual characterization by lithic analysts. We tested the protocol by applying it to a sample of piece-plotted lithics from four spits across the stratigraphic sequence. We document the intensive use of sandstone accounting for 25% of the tested sample. We also report a larger importance of hornfels and lower proportion of quartz than was reported in previous analyses (Kaplan 1990). The combination of micromorphological and p-XRF analysis of the Umhlatuzana assemblages demonstrates that with only visual inspection, the variability of raw materials used may be misinterpreted. With accurate raw material datasets, we are better equipped to answer techno-economic questions of the southern African Stone Age.

Authors 6

1. Irini Sifogeorgaki corresponding Aachen Human Origins Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Human Origins, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands

2. Viola Schmid Aachen Human Origins Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University

   Leiden University · Université Paris Nanterre · Archéologies et Sciences de l’Antiquité · Maison des Sciences de l'Homme Mondes · University of Tübingen

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany

   Human Origins, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands

   UMR 7041, Equipe AnTET, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense, Nanterre Cedex, France

3. Bertil van Os

   Cultural Heritage Agency of Netherlands

   Affiliation as printed

   Section Archaeology, Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, Amersfoort, Netherlands

4. Vi Fratta Aachen Human Origins Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Human Origins, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands

5. Hans D.J. Huisman

   University of Groningen · Cultural Heritage Agency of Netherlands

   Affiliation as printed

   Groningen Institute for Archaeology, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands

   Section Archaeology, Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, Amersfoort, Netherlands

6. Gerrit Leendert Dusseldorp Aachen Human Origins Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University

   Leiden University · University of Johannesburg

   Affiliation as printed

   Human Origins, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands

   Palaeo-Research Institute, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa