Aspects of the Size and Shape Variation of the East African Stone Bowls

Merrick, Harry V.

doi:10.1080/00672707309511575

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Robertshaw and Collett (1983: 72) have argued that such artifacts might have been agricultural hoes. Stone bowls are frequently found at PN sites (Merrick 1973) and are more commonly found at SPN habitations than Elmenteitan habitations. The function that stone bowls served at Luxmanda is unknown.…”

Section: Groundstone Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Pastoral Neolithic Settlement at Luxmanda, Tanzania

Grillo

Prendergast

Contreras

et al. 2018

Journal of Field Archaeology

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The later Holocene spread of pastoralism throughout eastern Africa profoundly changed socioeconomic and natural landscapes. During the Pastoral Neolithic (ca. 5000-1200 B.P.), herders spread through southern Kenya and northern Tanzania-areas previously occupied only by huntergatherers-eventually developing the specialized forms of pastoralism that remain vital in this region today. Research on ancient pastoralism has been primarily restricted to rockshelters and special purpose sites. This paper presents results of surveys and excavations at Luxmanda, an openair habitation site located farther south in Tanzania, and occupied many centuries earlier, than previously expected based upon prior models for the spread of herding. Technological and subsistence patterns demonstrate ties to northerly sites, suggesting that Luxmanda formed part of a network of early herders. The site is thus unlikely to stand alone, and further surveys are recommended to better understand the spread of herding into the region, and ultimately to southern Africa.

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Section: Groundstone Technologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Pastoral Neolithic Settlement at Luxmanda, Tanzania

Grillo

Prendergast

Contreras

et al. 2018

Journal of Field Archaeology

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“…Grillo et al (2018: 113) have, for example, suggested that stone bowls may be more frequently found at SPN habitation sites in comparison to Elmenteitan. In contrast, Merrick (1973) was unable to detect significant patterning distinguishing SPN and Elmenteitan stone bowl assemblages using quantitative measurements and a qualitative typology.…”

Section: Funerary Associations Performance and Knowledge And Communimentioning

confidence: 71%

“…Other ground-stone artefacts commonly described as stone bowls, but also termed platters, pudding basins, flat-saucers and flat-bottomed mortars, are found at PN sites in the greater Rift Valley area, frequently in association with grinding-slabs and/or handstones (Table 1). Merrick (1973) gives detailed information on variations in the size and shape of the stone bowls recovered from select PN sites, which we do not repeat here. We include stone bowls tentatively within the category of grinding-stone tools, although as we elaborate below we recognise that the function and significance of this artefact type was likely not singular.…”

Section: Grinding-stones In the Pnmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although stone bowls have received comparatively more attention than PN grinding-slabs and handstones (e.g. Merrick 1973), with the naming of Pastoral Neolithic industries having even once been the 'Stone Bowl Culture', there are still many lines of inquiry to follow with regard to the exact function and significance of these implements. It seems clear that more careful recording of grinding-stone tool morphology and variation, andwhere appropriatefocused microwear and trace/chemical analyses will be informative, especially in determining basic functional uses.…”

Section: Towards An Understanding Of Tool Form and Functionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Grinding-stone implements in the eastern African Pastoral Neolithic

Shoemaker

Davies

2019

Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa

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Grinding-stone tools are a poorly utilised source of archaeological information in eastern Africa. Their presence is noted in multiple contexts, including both domestic and funerary, yet the inferences drawn from them are often limited. This short review paper presents existing information on grinding-stone tools (and stone bowls) from Pastoral Neolithic (PN) contexts in eastern Africa. Data on the diverse grinding-stone tool assemblages of the Pastoral Neolithic have been compiled with a focus on details of morphology and spatial, temporal and contextual distribution. Summarising what is known (and, perhaps more importantly, what is not known) about grinding-stones in the Pastoral Neolithic, this paper serves as a reminder that the function of grinding-stone tools was neither singular nor their significance simplistic. RÉSUMÉ Les outils de broyage en pierre représentent une source d'informations archéologiques insuffisamment exploitée en Afrique orientale. Leur présence est notée dans de multiples contextes, tant domestiques que funéraires, mais les déductions tirées de ces objets sont souvent limitées. Cet article passe en revue les informations existantes sur les outils de broyage et les bols en pierre provenant de contextes du Néolithique Pastoral (PN, à savoir Pastoral Neolithic, en anglais) en Afrique orientale. Les données sur les divers assemblages sont présentées en mettant l'accent sur les détails de la morphologie des objets et sur leur distribution spatiale, temporelle et contextuelle. Résumant ce que l'on sait (et peut-être plus important encore, ce que l'on ne sait pas) concernant les outils de broyage dans le Néolithique Pastoral, cet article rappelle que la fonction de ces outils n'était ni singulière ni leur signification simpliste.

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Some Recent Radiocarbon Dates from Eastern and Southern Africa

Maggs¹

1977

J. Afr. Hist.

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This Article follows in the series started by Fagan and continued for eastern and southern Africa by Phillipson, Sutton and Soper. The scope remains much the same, covering in time the later part of the Stone Age sequence as well as the Iron Age. Geographically, however, there are some changes: the Sudan has been excluded as it was covered by the recent review of North and West African dates, while a detailed chronological review of francophone Central Africa is in progress and therefore this region has been excluded.

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Aspects of the Size and Shape Variation of the East African Stone Bowls

Cited by 8 publications

References 3 publications

Pastoral Neolithic Settlement at Luxmanda, Tanzania

Pastoral Neolithic Settlement at Luxmanda, Tanzania

Grinding-stone implements in the eastern African Pastoral Neolithic

Some Recent Radiocarbon Dates from Eastern and Southern Africa

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