Interpreting human behavior from depositional rates and combustion features through the study of sedimentary microfacies at site Pinnacle Point 5-6, South Africa

Abstract

, C. W. (2015). Interpreting human behavior from depositional rates and combustion features through the study of sedimentary microfacies at site Pinnacle Point 5-6, South Africa. Journal of Human Evolution, 85 1-21.Interpreting human behavior from depositional rates and combustion features through the study of sedimentary microfacies at site Pinnacle Point 5-6, South Africa AbstractUsing fine and coarse resolution geoarchaeological studies at the Middle Stone Age site of PP5-6 at Pinnacle Point, Mossel Bay, South Africa, we discovered different patterns of anthropogenic input and changes in behavior through time. Through the microfacies approach, we documented the various geogenic and anthropogenic processes that formed the deposits of the site. By deciphering large scale rate differences in the production of these microfacies we estimated anthropogenic input rates and therefore gained understanding of occupational duration and intensity.The PP5-6 sediments document occupations characterized by small groups and short visits during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5. This part of the sequence is characterized by numerous single (and mostly intact) hearth structures in a roofspall-rich matrix. During this time the sea was very close to the site and the people were focused on exploiting the rocky shores. With the advent of the glacial conditions of MIS4, the occupation of the site became much more intense. The occurrence of thick palimpsests of burnt remains, sometimes disturbed by small-scale sedimentary gravity processes, supports this conclusion. As sea level dropped and the coastline retreated, the geogenic input shifted to predominately aeolian sediments, implying an exposed shelf probably associated with a rich but more distant coastal environment. The occupants of PP5-6 turned their preference to silcrete as a raw material and they began to make microlithic stone tools. Since sites dating to MIS4 are abundant in the Cape, we suggest that populations during MIS4 responded to glacial conditions with either demographic stability or growth as well as technological change. Abstract: Using simultaneously fine and coarse resolution geoarchaeological studies of the deposits of the Middle Stone Age site of PP5-6 at Pinnacle Point, Mossel Bay, South Africa, we were able to reveal different patterns of anthropogenic input and behavior and how these changed through time. Through the microfacies approach using micromorphology we documented the various geogenic and anthropogenic processes that formed the deposits of the site. By deciphering large scale rate differences in the production of these microfacies we estimated anthropogenic input rates and therefore gained understanding of occupational duration and intensity.The PP5-6 sediments document occupations characterized by small groups and short visits during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5. This part of the sequence is characterized by numerous single and mostly intact hearth structures in a roofspall-rich matrix. During this time the sea was very close to the site and the peop...

The transition to foraging for dense and predictable resources and its impact on the evolution of modern humans

“…With the coastal zone further removed, and the ungulate populations large, it seems likely that large mammal hunting would have taken on a greater role in the adaptive system. There is sedimentological evidence that occupation intensities at PP5-6 increased dramatically from MIS5 to 4, with the MIS4 sediments displaying intense occupation and on-site burning, and the older MIS5 sediments showing short sporadic occupation [139]. This suggests that the combined abundance of large plains animals and rich intertidal beds made the PP locality extremely attractive for lengthy hunter-gatherer occupation.…”

The origins and significance of coastal resource use in Africa and Western Eurasia

“…There is evidence that 324 this occurred at PP13B in the LC-MSA Lower (Karkanas and Goldberg, 2010) and at Die 325 Kelders Cave 1 (Goldberg, 2000) in South Africa. Perhaps the best way to identify the impact of 326 decalcification, and to identify very small eroded shells as an indicator of once more abundant 327 shells, is through micromorphology (Goldberg, 2000;Goldberg and Sherwood, 2006).…”

“…The Shelly Ashy Brown Sand (SADBS) has a 608 dense distribution of shell throughout (Figures 4-6). PP5-6 provides another case of shell-609 midden deposits in MIS5-4 times, and there is no evidence that sediments were removed and left 610 the shell as a lag deposit (Karkanas et al, 2013). 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 minimum age for all the deposits below.…”

“…In 2010 we enriched this record with a full set of publications on the 80 context and finds from PP13B extending the record to ~90 ka (Marean, 2010a). With increased 81 grain samples and added analysis and modeling, the OSL age estimate for the LC-MSA Lower 82 was revised to 162 ka ± 6 ka (Jacobs, 2010). MSA occupations directly dated by numerical 83 techniques to MIS6 are rare along the southern African coast (there is only PP13B), and in 84 Africa overall, probably because populations were very small at this time (Foley and Lahr, 85 1997).…”

Site Use and Maintenance in the Middle Palaeolithic at Lakonis I (Peloponnese, Greece)

“…The hearth context deposits consist of bedded intact hearths, interspersed with disorganized deposits of mixed ash and clay. We interpret the latter as evidence for the raking out of hearth features and/or trampling (Goldberg 2003;Karkanas et al 2015;Meignen et al 2007;Mentzer 2014). Both the faunal and lithic materials were burned at higher rates in the hearth context as compared to the breccias.…”