Symbolic Use of Terrestrial Gastropod Opercula during the Middle Stone Age at Porc‐Epic Cave, Ethiopia

Assefa, Zelalem; Lam, Y. M.; Mienis, Henk K.

doi:10.1086/589509

Cited by 41 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…3i). At Porc Epic, gastropod opercula were arguably worn as beads, co-occur with MSA artifacts, and have been directly dated by the AMS radiocarbon method to between ∼33 and 143 ka (Assefa, Lam, and Mienis 2008). Ostrich eggshell beads and manufacturing debris have been reported from Bed V and lower Bed III at Mumba Rockshelter, Tanzania, now dated to 30-60 ka by Gliganic et al (2011).…”

Section: Symbolic Behavior: Mortuary Practices and Ornamentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variability in the Middle Stone Age of Eastern Africa

Tryon¹,

Faith²

2013

Current Anthropology

172

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Section: Symbolic Behavior: Mortuary Practices and Ornamentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variability in the Middle Stone Age of Eastern Africa

Tryon¹,

Faith²

2013

Current Anthropology

172

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“…Charcoal fragments recovered in the uppermost breccia have been dated to 5,700 ± 110 BP. Overall, radiocarbon ages obtained from Revoilia opercula at Porc-Epic Cave seem to indicate the sequence to have accumulated over at least 4,500 years [41,83]. However, given the uncertainty surrounding ages obtained at the site, we cannot exclude that Porc-Epic’s sequence may be longer than suggested by radiocarbon ages.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The MSA levels yielded more than 419 perforated gastropod opercula belonging to the terrestrial species Revoilia guillainopsis . Given that their presence cannot be attributed to natural processes and despite the lack of visible anthropogenic modifications on the perforations, they have nevertheless been interpreted as possible evidence for symbolic behaviour [83]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns of change and continuity in ochre use during the late Middle Stone Age of the Horn of Africa: The Porc-Epic Cave record

2017

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Ochre is found at numerous Middle Stone Age (MSA) sites and plays a key role in early modern human archaeology. Here we analyse the largest known East African MSA ochre assemblage, comprising 40 kg of ochre, found at Porc-Epic Cave, Ethiopia, spanning a period of at least 4,500 years. Visual characterisation of ochre types, microscopic identification of traces of modification, morphological and morphometric analysis of ochre pieces and modified areas, experimental reproduction of grinding processes, surface texture analysis of archaeological and experimentally ground ochre facets, laser granulometry of ochre powder produced experimentally on different grindstones and by Hamar and Ovahimba women from Ethiopia and Namibia respectively, were, for the first time, combined to explore diachronic shifts in ochre processing technology. Our results identify patterns of continuity in ochre acquisition, treatment and use reflecting both persistent use of the same geological resources and similar uses of iron-rich rocks by late MSA Porc-Epic inhabitants. Considering the large amount of ochre processed at the site, this continuity can be interpreted as the expression of a cohesive cultural adaptation, largely shared by all community members and consistently transmitted through time. A gradual shift in preferred processing techniques and motions is interpreted as reflecting cultural drift within this practice. Evidence for the grinding of ochre to produce small quantities of powder throughout the sequence is consistent with a use in symbolic activities for at least part of the ochre assemblage from Porc-Epic Cave.

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“…The list of well-dated stratified sites providing a diachronic perspective on lithic variability in eastern Africa during the late Middle and/or Upper Pleistocene is limited. Such archaeological sequences are for instance known from Enkapune Ya Muto (GtJi 12; Ambrose 1998), Marmonet Drift (GtJi 15; Ambrose 2002; Slater 2016), Ntumot (GvJh 11, Ntuka River 3; Ambrose 2002) Lukenya Hill (GvJm 22;Gramly 1976;Tryon et al 2015), Panga ya Saidi (Helm et al 2012;Shipton et al 2013Shipton et al , 2018, and Prolonged Drift (GrJi 11;Merrick 1975) in Kenya, from Goda Buticha (Leplongeon 2014;Pleurdeau et al 2014;Tribolo et al 2017), Mocheno Borago (Brandt et al 2012(Brandt et al , 2017, and Porc Epic (Assefa 2002(Assefa , 2006Assefa et al 2008;Breuil et al 1951;Clark et al 1984;Leplongeon 2014;Michels and Marean 1984;Perlès 1974;Pleurdeau 2003Pleurdeau , 2004Pleurdeau , 2005aPleurdeau , 2005bRosso et al 2014Rosso et al , 2017Teilhard de Chardin 1930;Vallois 1951) in Ethiopia, from Laas Geel Shelter 7 (Gutherz et al 2014) in Somaliland, from Midhishi 2 (Brandt 1986;Brandt and Gresham 1989) in Somalia, and from Kisese II (Deacon 1966;Inskeep 1962;Tryon et al 2018), Mumba (Diez-Martín et al 2009;Eren et al 2013;Gliganic et al 2012...…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%