Chronology, Adaptation and Environment of the Middle Palaeolithic in northern Africa

Project Staff

Principle Investigator

Professor Geoff Duller

Collaborators

Professor Ann Wintle
Dr Mayank Jain
Dr Sumiko Tsukamoto

Non IGES Collaborators

Professor D.S.G. Thomas (PI Oxford)
Dr Simon Armitage (former PRDA Oxford, now at RHUL)

Brief Description

EFCHED logoAfrica was a critical location in the emergence and dispersal of anatomically modern humans (AMHs) since MIS 5. Environmental factors played an important rôle in range expansion and contraction of antecedent Middle Palaeolithic (MP: c300-30ka) and Early Upper Palaeolithic (UP: 30-10ka) populations in Africa. Understanding their significance requires evaluation of the nature and chronology of the preserved archaeological record as well as consideration of the broader records of major environmental changes in key regions important for AMH occupation and movement.

Collecting luminescence samples inside Blombos CaveWe have applied Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating to sediment samples from key archaeological and environmental sites where other geochronometric techniques either require comparative age control or where OSL is the only viable technique to apply because of the nature of the deposits. We have worked on a number of important archaeological sites in northern and southern Africa, and on key sedimentary deposits that represent records of former much wetter conditions in regions that are dry today.

View of the entrance to Blombos caveResearch at Aberys

twyth has provided chronologies for sites in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia, and for the entire sequence of deposits at Blombos Cave, South Africa, where the oldest dated human art was identified1. At Sibudu rock shelter in South Africa we have dated the Middle Stone Age sequence 2, 3and demonstrated that occupation of the site was episodic, and controlled by environmental factors, primarily the availability of water. Changes in the physical environment were also important at Blombos Cave4. Here times of human occupation were punctuated by long periods of abandonment of the site as sea level fluctuated, altering the local availability of marine resources and leading to episodic blocking of the cave entrance by dune emplacement. The situation at De Kelders Cave, less than 100 km west along the coast from Blombos, is more complex and is currently being finalized for publication.

  1. Henshilwood CS, d'Errico F, Yates R, Jacobs Z, Tribolo C, Duller GAT, Mercier N, Sealy JC, Valladas H, Watts I, Wintle AG. 2002. Emergence of modern human behavior: Middle Stone Age engravings from South Africa. Science, 295: 1278-1280. DOI
  2. Jacobs Z, Wintle AG, Duller GAT, Roberts RG, Wadley L. 2008. New ages for the post-Howiesons Poort, late and final Middle Stone Age at Sibudu, South Africa. Journal of Archaeological Science, 35: 1790-1807. DOI
  3. Jacobs Z, Wintle AG, Roberts RG, Duller GAT. 2008. Equivalent dose distributions from single grains of quartz at Sibudu, South Africa: context, causes and consequences for optical dating of archaeological deposits. Journal of Archaeological Science, 35: 1808-1820. DOI
  4. Jacobs Z, Duller GAT, Wintle AG, Henshilwood CS. 2006. Extending the chronology of deposits at Blombos Cave, South Africa, back to 140 ka using optical dating of single and multiple grains of quartz. Journal of Human Evolution, 51: 255-273. DOI