Foragers downstream of Mapungubwe : the cultural sequence and chronology of Skirbeek Shelter, South Africa

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

Authors

Forssman, Tim
Antonites, Alexander
Ashley, Ceri Z.
Pentz, Justin
Scott, Karin
Woodborne, Stephan M.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Routledge

Abstract

In recent decades, interest in the Later Stone Age of the Mapungubwe region has increased. Here, we present the results of an investigation from a shelter downstream from Mapungubwe called Skirbeek. The shelter is in a sandstone koppie (tor) adjacent to another that was occupied in the 19th century a.d. by a Venda community. Radiocarbon results show three primary occupation phases in the mid-Holocene, final millennium b.c., and mid–late 2nd millennium a.d. The most intensely occupied phase was before ca. a.d. 750 prior to the arrival of herders, possibly, and farmers. There are several continuities and other discontinuities between these periods. Quartz dominates assemblages in each period, as do small end scrapers, but artifact and faunal frequencies vary. We compare these findings to those made in the Mapungubwe region and argue that Skirbeek represents a similar Later Stone Age phase. More generally, it appears largely consistent with Wilton assemblages defined in South Africa’s Cape zone rather than the Amadzimba and Bambata (or Ceramic Matopan) Industries found in Zimbabwe.

Description

Keywords

Later Stone Age, Stone tools, Ceramics, Foragers, Holocene archaeology, Wilton Industry, Southern Africa

Sustainable Development Goals

None

Citation

Tim Forssman, Alexander Antonites, Ceri Ashley, Justin Pentz, Karin Scott & Stephan Woodborne (29 Oct 2024): Foragers Downstream of Mapungubwe: the Cultural Sequence and Chronology of Skirbeek Shelter, South Africa, Journal of Field Archaeology, DOI: 10.1080/00934690.2024.2411648.