Bedding, hearths, and site maintenance in the Middle Stone Age of Sibudu Cave, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

Micromorphological analysis of sediments from the Middle Stone Age site of Sibudu Cave, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, provides a high-resolution sequence and evidence of site formation processes of predominantly anthropogenic deposits. This methodology allows for a detailed interpretation of individual anthropogenic activities, including the construction of hearths and bedding and the maintenance of occupational surfaces through the sweep out of hearths and the repeated burning of bedding. This analysis also provides a context for evaluating other studies at the site relating to magnetic susceptibility, paleobotany, paleozoology, anthracology, and studies of ochre.

Past Environmental Proxies from the Middle Stone Age at Sibudu, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

“…Large-scale events such as the transition from a cold, dry, glacial phase during MIS 4 to a warmer, moister, interstadial MIS 3 are also reflected in the magnetic susceptibility data (Herries 2006(Herries , 2009. However, Goldberg et al (2009) point out that the Sibudu sediments are almost entirely anthropogenic and that magnetic susceptibility readings are unlikely to represent climatic change.…”

“…In more recent layers, magnetic susceptibility results show alternating cooler and warmer conditions with an overall warming trend, although temperatures remained lower than present (Herries 2006). The sediments were largely deposited due to anthropogenic activities within the site (Pickering 2006;Goldberg et al 2009); therefore the magnetic susceptibility data should be interpreted with care. The lower magnetic susceptibility readings may correlate with periods of reduced human activity rather than a change in the environment, although major climatic events are recorded (Herries 2009).…”

“…The modern climate is characterised by high summer temperatures and precipitation (Min: 23°C, Max: 33°C, ± 1000 mm per annum) and mild winters (Min: 16°C, Max: 25°C) (Hall 2010;Bruch et al 2012). Most sediment build-up within the site is derived from anthropological debris (Pickering 2006;Goldberg et al 2009), and the site contains stratified time-related informally-and formally-named lithic assemblages (Wadley & Jacobs 2004. From oldest to most recent, these assemblages represent pre-Still Bay (layers BS to LBG), Still Bay (layers RGS, RGS2), Howiesons Poort (layers PGS to GR), post-Howiesons Poort (layers Br under YA2 to BSp), late MSA A B …”

The microstratigraphic record of human activities and formation processes at the Mesolithic shell midden of Poças de São Bento (Sado Valley, Portugal)

“…In archaeological contexts, micromorphology has proven to be especially useful for several relevant aspects of the archaeological record interpretation, such as the distinction between anthropogenic and natural processes (Aldeias et al 2014;Mallol et al 2010;Goldberg et al 2003;Karkanas 2002), including the nature and significance of stratigraphic contacts and discontinuities (Mallol and Mentzer 2015). It has been particularly successful in the identification and assessment of the degree of preservation of anthropogenic features, such as combustion features (Mentzer 2014;Aldeias et al 2012) and occupational surfaces-including Mesolithic ones (Zerboni 2011)-and the recognition of human activities such as bedding, trampling (Goldberg et al 2009;Miller et al 2013) or intentional reworking of debris (Shillito et al 2011;Sherwood and Kidder 2011). These types of activities are very often only discernible at this microscopic scale.…”

“…In archaeological sediments, different microfacies types might be recurrently in close association (e.g. Goldberg et al 2009). This approach helps to describe anthropogenic-derived millimetre-thick strata, which can be difficult to isolate in the field, and scale up their relation with the broader archaeological context.…”