Browsing by Author "Moll, Rosa Matsileng"

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    Assessing core reduction strategies in the Early Acheulean of East and South Africa
    (2024) Moll, Rosa Matsileng
    The earliest phase of the Acheulean technocomplex is represented in archaeological sites across East and South Africa. Typologically, there is some similarity between these regions, but little is known about how lithic technological strategies compare. If archaeological assemblages in East and South Africa compare, it could provide some detail into the regional technological evolution and how that is linked to hominid behaviour. Through a technological analysis of the core and Large Cutting Tool (LCT) assemblages from three South African sites (Sterkfontein M5W in the Cradle of Humankind, two layers from Pit 6 in Canteen Kopje, and two pits at Rietputs 15) and EF-HR, in Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, comparable reduction strategies appear to have been practiced. At each site, the LCT and core flaking strategies are distinct processes, but in both cases the edge management sequences are similar (bifacial, alternating, and unifacial). Blank shape and edge angles are shown to be more relevant to reduction strategies than the size or raw material type of the blank. Throughout the earliest phase of the Acheulean technocomplex >1.5 Ma there appears to be a progressive change in core reduction strategies. In the earliest assemblages, cores are generally exploited along multiple surfaces with no structured organisation of flake scars. In slightly younger deposits at EF-HR, the Organised Core Technology layer and Canteen Kopje, and Pits 5 at Rietputs 15, ca 1.3 Ma, there is a shift to structured flaking of a core edge or surface, as well as continuous, intensive, organised and sometimes hierarchal reduction strategies. These reduction patterns are precursors to later technological developments such as the Victoria West prepared core industry. LCTs were primarily shaped using bifacial means, both traditional and alternating. The shape of the blank was more important for edge management, as acute angles required fewer flake scars to manipulate. These sequences reveal forethought about artefact production, which is comparable to continuous and structured core reduction sequences. Like cores, work needs to be done to understand if there are progressive changes in LCT production during the early Acheulean.
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    A technological study of the lithic artefacts from the Earlier Stone Age site of Maropeng in the Craddle of Humankind, Gauteng, South Africa
    (2017) Moll, Rosa Matsileng
    Maropeng is the only known open-air Earlier Stone Age site in the Cradle of Humankind, South Africa. Excavations yielded one of the largest Early Acheulean assemblages in the Cradle of Humankind, with 693 artefacts. This represents a small sample of the material in the artefact bearing horizon, which is estimated to cover an area of approximately 191200m². The assemblage is dominated by large cores and flakes, mainly on locally sourced quartzites. A combination of site formation processes has led to the removal of small flaking debris, and thus the previous analysis by Pollarolo et al. (2010) focused on large cutting tools and cores. This study aimed to determine whether a dominant phase of the Acheulean techno-complex was evident from an in situ excavated assemblage, the hypothesis maintained by Pollarolo et al. (2010). A technological study of the specific production strategies was carried out, focusing on multiple attributes of cores, flakes and LCTs, and various methods for assessing reduction (e.g. Toth 1985; Kuman 2001; Braun et al. 2008b; De la Torre 2011). The analysed data was compared to well-established Early Acheulean sites both in eastern and southern Africa. Results show that cores have been reduced in casual and multifacial strategies, following naturally available platforms. Reduction was limited with many cores having few flake scars and retaining large percentages of cortex. The relatively low flake scar count was consistent on all core sizes, but flake scar sizes increased with core size. Knappers were able to produce feather terminated flakes on cores most of the time but did not correct mistakes or rejuvenate platforms. The large cutting tools are few, with both unifacially and bifacially shaped pieces displaying primary and secondary removals. Secondary shaping is only found on handaxes and roughouts, where knappers unsuccessfully attempted to thin the central mass of the blank. Cleavers were made on large flake blanks with naturally flat, straight tips and possessed only primary shaping. The flakes, however, were found to associate technologically with the LCTs and more exploited cores. The majority corresponded with an intense reduction sequence, but very few flakes were found that correspond to the high number of casually reduced cores. The simple cores, and limited LCT shaping, represent an early phase of the Acheulean techno-complex, while many flakes derive from largely more complex core working. The implications for this complexity are a long-term accumulation on the landscape, with hominids displaying multiple behavioural traits within the lithic production.