Late earlier stone age sites in the Mapungubwe National Park, South Africa: a technological study
Date
2008-04-25T06:59:44Z
Authors
Kempson, Helen
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Dr K. Kuman initiated the Limpopo research programme that at present is based on
excavations conducted at three sites, Hackthorne, Kudu Koppie and Keratic Koppie.
They are situated atop a remnant of an ancient Miocene terrace, approximately 4km
from the present day course of the Limpopo River in the Mapungubwe National Park.
A broad range of stone tool types is represented in the area, with mostly Earlier and
Middle Stone Age artefacts found on the higher ground and Later Stone Age pieces
found primarily on the Limpopo’s floodplain. One of the obstacles to understanding
the archaeology of the region is the widespread episodic deflation that occurred here
during arid periods of the Pleistocene, which had an impact on stratified sequences in
the Stone Age. While all three sites have been subject to deflation, Hackthorne and
Keratic Koppie are single component sites. Kudu Koppie, however, preserves some
stratigraphy and provides a means of comparing and assessing the single component
assemblages which have undergone varying degrees of mixing. It was therefore vital
to establish a pattern of change through time at Kudu Koppie, with a sequence of late
Earlier, Middle and Later Stone Age deposits, using a combination of strategies
including typology, technological analysis and a study of raw material exploitation.
These data suggest that Hackthorne is primarily a late Earlier Stone Age (ESA)
assemblage with some Middle Stone Age (MSA) mixing, while Keratic Koppie
preserves an ESA assemblage with a more significant MSA component. The ESA
component is further argued to be a final post-Acheulean industry with a major
component of woodworking tools, suggesting it may be a local variant of the Sangoan
Industrial Complex.
Description
Keywords
late ESA, Mapungubwe National Park