Publications
A high-resolution chronology for the archaeological deposits at Pinnacle Point 5–6, Western Cape Province, South Africa
Researchers have constructed a high-resolution chronology for the archaeological deposits at Pinnacle Point Site 5–6 (PP5-6), South Africa, spanning approximately 60,000 years from around 110,000 to 50,000 years ago. This study demonstrates that sediment deposition at PP5-6 is closely linked to global climate and sea-level changes, providing a detailed timeline for understanding human occupation and environmental modifications during the Pleistocene. The team employed optical dating methods, generating 197 individual age estimates, with 169 integrated into a Bayesian age model. This systematic approach enhances the resolution of chronologies to human timescales, enabling more precise comparisons between sites and proxy data. Additionally, the study identifies major periods of site modification and connects various causes and effects with different types of occupation, offering new insights into the interplay between humans and their environment during this critical period.
A microcontextual investigation of Later Stone Age ash deposits and associated interment of human remains at Faraoskop Rock Shelter, South Africa
A microcontextual investigation of Later Stone Age ash deposits at Faraoskop Rock Shelter, South Africa, reveals distinct patterns of human activity and environmental shifts. The study identifies a break in site occupation between Pleistocene and Holocene deposits, with Holocene ash deposits indicating continuous hearth use at a central location, marked by increasing fire intensity over time. Phytolith analysis further suggests the repeated use of plant bedding features, particularly eudicots, as living surfaces around fires. The findings also point to an environmental transition from grassland regimes during the Pleistocene to a shrubbier context in the Holocene. While the direct interment context of human remains was not available for study, the research provides valuable insights into site use patterns and paleoenvironmental conditions during this period.
The Middle Stone Age Sequence at Klipfonteinrand 1 (KFR1), Western Cape, South Africa
A re-excavation of the Middle Stone Age (MSA) sequence at Klipfonteinrand 1 (KFR1), a rock shelter in South Africa’s Fynbos biome, reveals three distinct MSA components dating to ~69 ka, ~85 ka, and ~156 ka. Notably, the oldest component contains large blades absent from overlying strata, suggesting a unique technological phase during marine isotope stage 6 (MIS 6). Phytolith analysis indicates stable floral communities across these units, reflecting the biome’s resilience. The study highlights spatial variability in rock shelter occupation, as earlier MSA and early Holocene components were not found in a nearby trench, which instead yielded a sequence dominated by MIS 2 occupation. This research advances understanding of early modern human behavior in southern Africa while underscoring the discontinuous nature of archaeological deposits.
Coherent changes in wood charcoals, site occupation and lithic technology across the MIS 4/3 transition at Klein Kliphuis rock shelter, South Africa
A significant shift in human behavior and environmental adaptation occurred at Klein Kliphuis rock shelter, South Africa, during the transition from Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 4 to MIS 3, approximately 65–55,000 years ago. The study reveals that as soil moisture declined, site occupation intensity decreased, marked by a reduction in diverse fuelwood species and an increase in shrubs and small flowering plants used for 'fast fires.' This suggests a behavioral change towards shorter visits and greater forager mobility, possibly linked to early MIS 3 conditions. Wood charcoals also indicate that silcrete, the dominant lithology in tool production during the Howiesons Poort period, was less prevalent post-transition, implying changes in lithic technology. The research integrates paleoenvironmental data with archaeological evidence to uncover coherent shifts in human adaptation strategies during this critical period.
Tufas indicate prolonged periods of water availability linked to human occupation in the southern Kalahari
Research at Ga-Mohana Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the southern Kalahari, reveals that prolonged periods of water availability, indicated by relict tufas, were closely linked to human occupation during the Pleistocene. Analysis of 33 uranium-thorium dated samples spanning the last 110,000 years identified five distinct episodes of tufa formation, three of which align with known archaeological units at the site (~105 ka, ~31 ka, and ~15 ka). The study suggests that wet phases and human occupation were coupled in this region from approximately 240,000 to 71,000 years ago, but decoupled by around 20,000 years during the Last Glacial Maximum. This finding provides critical insights into the relationship between environmental change and human evolution, emphasizing the importance of water availability in shaping human settlement patterns.
Making the Invisible Stratigraphy Visible: A Grid-Based, Multi-Proxy Geoarchaeological Study of Umhlatuzana Rockshelter, South Africa
A grid-based, multi-proxy geoarchaeological study of Umhlatuzana Rockshelter in South Africa reveals that the site's stratigraphy, previously appearing homogeneous, shows fine-resolution geochemical differentiations linked to environmental changes and human occupation intensity during the Pleistocene. The research combines pH measurements, X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis, magnetic susceptibility, and micromorphological observations to demonstrate a steady transition from Middle Stone Age to Later Stone Age industries, suggesting wetter conditions during the transitional period. This study also confirms the integrity of the sedimentary sequence, ruling out large-scale post-depositional movement. The approach offers a robust method for studying archaeological deposits at both macro and micro scales, providing insights into stratigraphic integrity, anthropogenic input, preservation, and environmental change.
Chronostratigraphy, Site Formation, and Palaeoenvironmental Context of Late Pleistocene and Holocene Occupations at Grassridge Rock Shelter (Eastern Cape, South Africa)
A reanalysis of Grassridge Rock Shelter in South Africa's Eastern Cape reveals pulsed human occupation from 43–28 ka, 13.5–11.6 ka, and 7.3–6.8 ka, interspersed with complex geogenic, anthropogenic, and biogenic inputs. This pattern mirrors broader Pleistocene-Holocene trends in South Africa's high-elevation grasslands, suggesting forager mobility was intricately linked to rapidly fluctuating palaeoenvironments during the last glacial-to-interglacial transition. The study combines optically stimulated luminescence and radiocarbon dating with sedimentological and microbotanical analyses to reconstruct site formation processes and environmental shifts, from cooler, drier MIS 3 grasslands to warmer, moister summer rainfall-dominated conditions in MIS 1.
New Excavations at Umhlatuzana Rockshelter, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a Stratigraphic and Taphonomic Evaluation
New excavations at Umhlatuzana Rockshelter, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, challenge previous assumptions about sediment movement and reveal a stable depositional history spanning the last 70,000 years. Contrary to earlier suggestions, high-resolution geoarchaeological analyses—including sedimentology, particle size distribution, cluster analysis, phytolith studies, and geochemical assessments (pH, loss on ignition, stable carbon isotopes)—demonstrate that the site’s stratigraphic integrity is intact, with no evidence of large-scale postdepositional disturbance. The study proposes a revised stratigraphic division for the Pleistocene sequence, showing that low-density archaeological horizons in the upper layers result from varying sedimentation rates rather than sediment movement. This finding provides critical insights into the Middle to Later Stone Age transition (~40,000–30,000 years BP) and contributes to understanding the emergence of modern human behavior in southern Africa.
Uncovering the Late Pleistocene LSA of Mpumalanga Province, South Africa: Early Results from Iron Pig Rock Shelter
Research at Iron Pig Rock Shelter, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, reveals new insights into the Late Pleistocene Later Stone Age (LSA) occupation of northeastern South Africa. The site provides a well-dated sequence from >16000 to <9000 cal BP, associated with the Robberg techno-complex. Lithic analysis of layers 5 and 6 suggests gradual temporal shifts in technology, indicating short-term changing traditions. Comparative review highlights significant research gaps in the region, emphasizing the need for further study. This work contributes to a broader understanding of human behavior during the Late Pleistocene in South Africa.
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