Phytoliths at Sibudu (South Africa): implications for vegetation, climate and human occupation during the MSA
Date
2018
Authors
Murungi, May Lesley
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
Sibudu Cave is a rock shelter located in KwaZulu Natal at the east coast of South Africa and falls within the summer rainfall zone. Sibudu boasts well-dated deep Middle Stone Age deposits that have been studied to understand early human behaviour and their environment along the east coast of South Africa. Charcoal, pollen, seeds, carbon isotopes and faunal studies have contributed to understanding the past vegetation and climate at Sibudu during the MSA. However, little is known about the grassland composition during this period at Sibudu. This study presents a phytolith based reconstruction of palaeo-vegetation and palaeo-climate to understand early human-plant interactions and environment at the east coast of South Africa during the pre-Still Bay industry to the post-Howiesons Poort industry (ca. > 71, 000 to 48, 000 years ago).
Two studies were completed: archaeological samples and modern plant samples. Twenty eight archaeological samples were processed and compared with modern plant samples form the local area with additional modern plant material obtained from the herbarium at the Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand – specifically the sedges and rushes (total of more than 90 species). The main contribution of this study was to provide a modern phytolith reference collection for South African sedges for which hardly any information existed and for woody taxa for which no reference existed at the time.
MSA sediment records indicate a mix of grasses, sedges and woody taxa that were utilised at Sibudu. An important human activity occurred during the Still Bay (SB) and the Howiesoons Poort (HP), with an abundance of unique phytoliths in particular sediment layers that could not be confidently identified from the available literature. Given the high production of phytoliths in grasses, grass phytoliths in the MSA record were considered to occur in relatively lower than expected amounts. The phytolith study suggests that C4 grasses that are currently synonymous with the present-day vegetation in the Summer Rainfall Zone were likely the dominant grass type during the MSA at Sibudu. Specifically C4 tall grasses that favour warm mesic habitats are inferred in the Sibudu phytolith record as having been the most utilised grass type.
Description
A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the award of the
Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
of the University of the Witwatersrand, School of Geosciences
and the Evolutionary Studies Institute. Johannesburg, October 2018
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Citation
Murungi, May Lesley (2018) Phytoliths at Sibudu (South Africa): implications for vegetation, climate and human occupation during the MSA, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, <http://hdl.handle.net/10539/25658>