Technological Trends in the Middle Stone Age of South Africa between MIS 7 and MIS 3

Aminostratigraphy and taphonomy of ostrich eggshell in the sedimentary infill of Apollo 11 Rockshelter, Namibia

“…McBrearty and Brooks, 2000). The new interpretation of the lower layers from Apollo 11 Rockshelter not only confirms this scepticism, but proves the onset of the South African Middle Stone Age more than 200,000 years ago, a period that is otherwise poorly known Wurz, 2013). The transition from the Early Stone Age to the Middle Stone Age in southern Africa is ambiguous and ages range from between 500,000 and 125,000 years ago, pointing to an overlap of both technological traditions comparable to the East African evidence (Tyron and Faith, 2013).…”

Variability in the Middle Stone Age of Eastern Africa

“…As these sites show, the apparent continuity of backed pieces among strata attributed to the MSA and LSA from eastern Africa sites is distinct from the discontinuous appearance of backed pieces in southern Africa (cf. Howiesons Poort and Wilton assemblages) or the late appearance of backed pieces in northern Africa (e.g., Close 2002;Deacon and Deacon 1999;Wurz 2013). …”

“…2d), including K'one and Aduma in Ethiopia (Kurashina 1978;Yellen et al 2005) and Rusinga Island in Kenya , documenting an extensive range for this Levallois variant. Some Levallois approaches, such as that used for blade production at some South African sites (Wurz 2002(Wurz , 2013, are not found in eastern Africa.…”

Stone tool assemblages and models for the dispersal of Homo sapiens out of Africa

“…An additional important feature of the Howiesons Poort is the retention of more classically MP-like/mode 3 elements including unifacial and bifacial points (Lombard et al, 2010) and Levallois/ discoidal cores (Wurz, 2013). These features are not typically found at other localities with backed technologies discussed below such as the Naisiusiu Beds (Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania) and microlithic sites in South Asia.…”