Teresa Steele | University of California, Davis (original) (raw)

Papers by Teresa Steele

Research paper thumbnail of Varsche Rivier 003, South Africa

Springer eBooks, Dec 31, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Reconstructing Late Pleistocene paleoclimate at the scale of human behavior: an example from the Neandertal occupation of La Ferrassie (France)

Scientific Reports, Jan 14, 2021

Exploring the role of changing climates in human evolution is currently impeded by a scarcity of ... more Exploring the role of changing climates in human evolution is currently impeded by a scarcity of climatic information at the same temporal scale as the human behaviors documented in archaeological sites. This is mainly caused by high uncertainties in the chronometric dates used to correlate long-term climatic records with archaeological deposits. One solution is to generate climatic data directly from archaeological materials representing human behavior. Here we use oxygen isotope measurements of Bos/Bison tooth enamel to reconstruct summer and winter temperatures in the Late Pleistocene when Neandertals were using the site of La Ferrassie. Our results indicate that, despite the generally cold conditions of the broader period and despite direct evidence for cold features in certain sediments at the site, Neandertals used the site predominantly when climatic conditions were mild, similar to conditions in modern day France. We suggest that due to millennial scale climate variability, the periods of human activity and their climatic characteristics may not be representative of average conditions inferred from chronological correlations with long-term climatic records. These results highlight the importance of using direct routes, such as the high-resolution archives in tooth enamel from anthropogenically accumulated faunal assemblages, to establish climatic conditions at a human scale. The study of Pleistocene human behavior is intimately connected to the environmental context in which human activity took place. During the Late Pleistocene, Europe was characterized by rapidly oscillating climatic shifts of dramatic magnitude 1,2. Such changes would have posed significant challenges for all hominins, requiring great flexibility and resilience. However, how and to what degree hominin groups responded to harsh and rapidly changing climatic conditions in Late Pleistocene Europe is both debated and remains poorly understood, largely due to a lack of high resolution climate records that can be sufficiently linked to archaeological evidence. Specifically, while excellent local and global climate archives do exist 3-6 , the low precision in chronological dating methods for the archaeological record and for relevant climate archives often leads to a high uncertainty in correlating climatic data obtained from spatially removed archives with archaeological evidence of human activity.

Research paper thumbnail of A New Methodology for Understanding How Bone Wears Using 3D Surface Texture Analysis

The 82nd Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of A Howiesons Poort tradition of engraving ostrich eggshell containers dated to 60,000 years ago at Diepkloof Rock Shelter, South Africa

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Mar 1, 2010

Ongoing debates about the emergence of modern human behavior, however defined, regularly incorpor... more Ongoing debates about the emergence of modern human behavior, however defined, regularly incorporate observations from the later part of the southern African Middle Stone Age and emphasize the early appearance of artifacts thought to reflect symbolic practice. Here we report a large sample of 270 fragments of intentionally marked ostrich eggshell from the Howiesons Poort at Diepkloof Rock Shelter, Western Cape, South Africa. Dating from ≈60,000 years ago, these pieces attest to an engraving tradition that is the earliest reliable evidence of what is a widespread modern practice. These abstract linear depictions were made on functional items (eggshell containers), which were curated and involved in daily hunter-gatherer life. The standardized production of repetitive patterns, including a hatched band motif, suggests a system of symbolic representation in which collective identities and individual expressions are clearly communicated, suggesting social, cultural, and cognitive underpinnings that overlap with those of modern people.

Research paper thumbnail of Gibraltar data are too sparse to inform on Neanderthal exploitation of coastal resources

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Dec 23, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Integrating Faunal and Lithic Data to examine Neandertal Subsistence at the Late Mousterian Site of Abri Peyrony, France

The 81st Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Virtual skeletons: using a structured light scanner to create a 3D faunal comparative collection

Journal of Archaeological Science, Sep 1, 2009

Appropriate comparative animal skeletons are not always available to faunal analysts for use in i... more Appropriate comparative animal skeletons are not always available to faunal analysts for use in identifying archaeofaunal remains. This is especially pertinent when working in locations where no comparative collections are available locally, and the archaeological assemblage cannot be transported to another facility. In order to fill this gap, we are building a virtual comparative faunal collection using a structured light

Research paper thumbnail of Intertidal shellfish use during the Middle and Later Stone Age of South Africa

Archaeofauna, Oct 1, 2008

Middle Stone Age (MSA; 250,000 to 50,000 years ago) and Later Stone Age (LSA; 50,000 years ago to... more Middle Stone Age (MSA; 250,000 to 50,000 years ago) and Later Stone Age (LSA; 50,000 years ago to historic times) archaeological sites along the coast of South Africa frequently preserve the remains of marine shellfish, primarily limpets, mussels, and turban shells. These sites are found in two distinct biogeographic regions, the west, Atlantic Ocean coast and the south, Indian Ocean coast, with different marine environments influencing the shellfish species available for human exploitation. We are currently excavating Ysterfontein 1, a Middle Stone Age shell midden on the west coast. Analyses of the mollusks from Ysterfontein 1 and other MSA and LSA assemblages illuminate ancient subsistence practices, environmental changes, and human population densities, and we particularly aim to address issues surrounding the emergence of fully modern humans. The abundance of shells in many sites demonstrates that mollusks were an important source of food for both MSA and LSA people. Throughout the MSA and LSA, the proportions of different shellfish species change through time, suggesting that changing sea levels or ocean conditions may have influenced the available species. However, in many respects MSA and LSA assemblages are different from each other. The MSA samples have a lower diversity of shellfish species than LSA samples; they are poor in granular limpets; and they lack fish and rock lobster, which are common in many coastal LSA assemblages. In general, limpets and turban shells are larger in MSA assemblages than they are in LSA samples. We believe the sum suggests that MSA people foraged less intensively than LSA people, perhaps because they lived at lower population densities.Keywords: Mollusks, Shellfish, Limpets, South Africa, Middle Stone Age, Later Stone Age, Human population density, Modern human originsResumen:Los yacimientos costeros del Paleolitico Medio (MSA; 250.000 - 50.000 anos) y Tardio (LSA; 50.000 anos hasta tiempos historicos) en Sudafrica frecuentemente incorporan restos de conchas marinas, principalmente lapas, mejillones y bigaros. Estos yacimientos se localizan en dos regiones biogeograficas, la occidental en la costa atlantica y la oriental en la costa meridional del Indico, con distintos ambientes marinos que determinan las especies disponibles para la recoleccion. Actualmente se excava Ysterfontein 1 un conchero del Paleolitico Medio en la costa occidental que, junto con otros del Paleolitico Tardio atestiguan antiguas practicas de subsistencia asi como cambios ambientales y densidades preteritas de poblaciones humanas que se confia ayuden a aclarar cuestiones relativas a la aparicion de los humanos modernos. La abundancia de conchas apunta a la importancia de los moluscos en las dietas tanto durante la MSA como la LSA. A lo largo de ambos periodos, las frecuencias de las distintas especies cambiaron sugiriendo que bien los cambiantes niveles del mar como las condiciones oceanicas pueden haber influenciado que especies estaban mas disponibles en cada momento. No obstante, desde varias perspectivas, las asociaciones del Paleolitico Medio y Tardio difieren entre si. Las muestras del Paleolitico Medio exhiben una menor diversidad de especies, son pobres en lapas y carecen de restos de peces y bogavantes, especies comunes en las muestras del Paleolitico Tardio. En general, tanto los bigaros como las lapas son mayores en el Paleolitico Medio que en el Tardio y todo ello nos sugiere que las gentes de la etapa MSA mariscaban de un modo menos intenso de lo que lo hicieron las poblaciones de la etapa posterior, quizas por vivir a mas bajas densidades de poblacion.Palabras clave: Moluscos, Marisco, Lapa, Sudafrica, Paleolitico Medio, Paleolitico Tardio, Densidad de poblacion humana, Origen de los humanos modernos

Research paper thumbnail of Excavations at Klipfonteinrand Reveal Local and Regional Patterns of Adaptation and Interaction Through MIS 2 in Southern Africa

Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology, Dec 16, 2019

Research interest in patterns of cultural transmission in the southern African Palaeolithic is co... more Research interest in patterns of cultural transmission in the southern African Palaeolithic is complicated by poor resolution of site occupation, technological behaviour, and underlying environmental conditions. Here, we describe the Pleistocene Later Stone Age sequence from Klipfonteinrand rock shelter, dating 22.3-13.4 ka, in light of local and regional data. Analysis of chronology, stratigraphy, wood charcoal, fauna, and lithics suggest an early termination for the Robberg technocomplex, with a locally adaptive response to declining humidity emerging by~16 ka. Subsequent Oakhurst-aligned systems are in place by~14.4 ka, associated with diminished intensity of site use and drier conditions. Technological responses in the post-Robberg interval appear to differ between sites in coastal and interior areas, despite evidence for interaction between the two in this period. The results suggest a complex mix of local adaptation and interregional transmission through MIS 2.

Research paper thumbnail of Late Pleistocene Subsistence Strategies and Resource Intensification in Africa

Springer eBooks, 2009

... A zooarchaeological study not only considers the species present and their relative abundance... more ... A zooarchaeological study not only considers the species present and their relative abundance, but also cut-marks and breakage patterns, skeletal part representation, prey mortality profiles, carnivore impacts, etc. Zooarchaeologists ...

Research paper thumbnail of Saint-Avit-Sénieur

Archéologie de la France-informations, Feb 10, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Initial Investigations into the Exploitation of Coastal Resources in North Africa During the Late Pleistocene at Grotte Des Contrebandiers, Morocco

Interdisciplinary contributions to archaeology, 2011

While there has long been an interest in Holocene coastal adaptations globally (see other papers ... more While there has long been an interest in Holocene coastal adaptations globally (see other papers in this volume and Erlandson 2001), only more recently has attention focused on marine resource exploitation during the more ancient times of the Middle Paleolithic (MP) and Middle ...

Research paper thumbnail of The Ysterfontein 1 Middle Stone Age site, South Africa, and early human exploitation of coastal resources

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Mar 8, 2004

Human fossils and the genetics of extant human populations indicate that living people derive pri... more Human fossils and the genetics of extant human populations indicate that living people derive primarily from an African population that lived within the last 200,000 years. Yet it was only ≈50,000 years ago that the descendants of this population spread to Eurasia, where they swamped or replaced the Neanderthals and other nonmodern Eurasians. Based on archaeological observations, the most plausible hypothesis for the delay is that Africans and Eurasians were behaviorally similar until 50,000 years ago, and it was only at this time that Africans developed a behavioral advantage. The archaeological findings come primarily from South Africa, where they suggest that the advantage involved much more effective use of coastal resources. Until now, the evidence has come mostly from deeply stratified caves on the south (Indian Ocean) coast. Here, we summarize results from recent excavations at Ysterfontein 1, a deeply stratified shelter in a contrasting environment on the west (Atlantic) coast. The Ysterfontein 1 samples of human food debris must be enlarged for a full comparison to samples from other relevant sites, but they already corroborate two inferences drawn from south coast sites: ( i ) coastal foragers before 50,000 years ago did not fish routinely, probably for lack of appropriate technology, and ( ii ) they collected tortoises and shellfish less intensively than later people, probably because their populations were smaller.

Research paper thumbnail of Life in the Margins: The Pre-Still Bay Deposits from Varsche Rivier 003, Southern Namaqualand, South Africa

The 86th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Cultural transitions in the north African middle stone age: A view from Morocco

Research paper thumbnail of Coastal marine resource exploitation during the Late Pleistocene at Contrebandiers Cave (Temara, Morocco)

The 81st Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Mollusk and tortoise size as proxies for stone age population density in South Africa: Implications for the evolution of human cultural capacity

Résumé/Abstract Research on the evolution of fully modern human cognitive capacities and cultural... more Résumé/Abstract Research on the evolution of fully modern human cognitive capacities and cultural behaviors has flourished in recent years. Here, we focus on distinguishing between the two best-described models. The first hypothesizes a rapid, abrupt development of fully ...

Research paper thumbnail of Provisioning Responses to Environmental Change in South Africa’s Winter Rainfall Zone: MIS 5-2

Studies in human ecology and adaptation, Nov 10, 2017

The later Middle Stone Age of southern Africa witnesses a number of important changes in lithic t... more The later Middle Stone Age of southern Africa witnesses a number of important changes in lithic technology including the early appearance of bifacial point and microlithic systems. Though radiometric ages for these changes remain contested, they can in places be reconciled with elements of climatic variation. This paper examines the organization of provisioning systems through four successive industrial phases – the Still Bay, early Howiesons Poort, later Howiesons Poort, and post-Howiesons Poort – using data from rock-shelters and open sites. We show that the dominant means of technological delivery shifted from individual to place provisioning and back to individual provisioning through these industries, likely reflecting variation in humidity through the last glacial. We also show that the apparent abundance of sites and richness of assemblages in industries such as the Howiesons Poort may be in part a consequence of a research focus on rock-shelters; we found limited evidence for Howiesons Poort sites in the open. This is in contrast to the other industries, most clearly the Still Bay, for which we identified several large open-air gearing-up locations. Finally, we suggest that while interrogation of the archaeological record at the industry level is viable, it also masks behaviorally meaningful variation that should serve to encourage finer-scaled analyses.

Research paper thumbnail of The new <sup>14</sup> C chronology for the Palaeolithic site of La Ferrassie, France: the disappearance of Neanderthals and the arrival of <i>Homo sapiens</i> in France

Journal of Quaternary Science, Aug 24, 2020

The grand abri at La Ferrassie (France) has been a key site for Palaeolithic research since the e... more The grand abri at La Ferrassie (France) has been a key site for Palaeolithic research since the early part of the 20th century. It became the eponymous site for one variant of Middle Palaeolithic stone tools, and its sequence was used to define stages of the Aurignacian, an early phase of the Upper Palaeolithic. Several Neanderthal remains, including two relatively intact skeletons, make it one of the most important sites for the study of Neanderthal morphology and one of the more important data sets when discussing the Neanderthal treatment of the dead. However, the site has remained essentially undated. Our goal here is to provide a robust chronological framework of the La Ferrassie sequence to be used for broad regional models about human behaviour during the late Middle to Upper Palaeolithic periods. To achieve this goal, we used a combination of modern excavation methods, extensive geoarchaeological analyses, and radiocarbon dating. If we accept that Neanderthals were responsible for the Châtelperronian, then our results suggest an overlap of ca. 1600 years with the newly arrived Homo sapiens found elsewhere in France.

Research paper thumbnail of The Middle and Later Stone Age faunal remains from Diepkloof Rock Shelter, Western Cape, South Africa

Journal of Archaeological Science, Sep 1, 2013

ABSTRACT The faunal sample from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) and overlying Later Stone Age (LSA) de... more ABSTRACT The faunal sample from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) and overlying Later Stone Age (LSA) deposits of Diepkloof Rock Shelter (Western Cape Province, South Africa) includes at least 40 taxa, mostly mammals, but also tortoises, snakes, birds (especially ostrich represented by eggshell), and intertidal mollusks. The LSA sample contains only species that occurred nearby historically, including domestic sheep, which LSA people introduced to the region by 1800 years ago. In contrast, like other Western Cape MSA faunas, the Diepkloof MSA sample has more species and it is especially notable for five large extralimital grazing species. These imply a greater-than-historic role for grasses in the local vegetation, particularly in the post-Howiesons Poort (latest MSA) interval where the grazers appear most abundant. Extreme fragmentation and dark-staining impedes analysis of the MSA bones, but cut-marks, abundant burning, and numerous associated artifacts suggest that people were the main accumulators. Rare coprolites imply that carnivores could have contributed some bones, and concentrations of small mammal bones, particularly near the bottom of the MSA sequence, suggest a role for raptors. Tortoise bones are common throughout the sequence, and the MSA specimens tend to be especially large, as in other MSA assemblages. The LSA specimens are smaller, probably because LSA human populations were denser and preyed on tortoises more intensively. The most surprising aspect of the Diepkloof assemblage is its marine component. The coast is currently 14 km away and it would have been even more distant during much of the MSA when sea levels were often lower. Intertidal mollusks, particularly black mussels and granite limpets, are concentrated in the LSA and in the Late and Post-Howiesons Poort layers. Only LSA shells are complete enough for measurement, and the limpets are small as at other LSA sites. The implication is again for more intense LSA collection by relatively dense human populations. Both the LSA and MSA deposits also contain bones of shorebirds and Cape fur seals. Whale barnacles and occasional dolphin bones indicate that MSA people scavenged beached cetaceans.

Research paper thumbnail of Varsche Rivier 003, South Africa

Springer eBooks, Dec 31, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Reconstructing Late Pleistocene paleoclimate at the scale of human behavior: an example from the Neandertal occupation of La Ferrassie (France)

Scientific Reports, Jan 14, 2021

Exploring the role of changing climates in human evolution is currently impeded by a scarcity of ... more Exploring the role of changing climates in human evolution is currently impeded by a scarcity of climatic information at the same temporal scale as the human behaviors documented in archaeological sites. This is mainly caused by high uncertainties in the chronometric dates used to correlate long-term climatic records with archaeological deposits. One solution is to generate climatic data directly from archaeological materials representing human behavior. Here we use oxygen isotope measurements of Bos/Bison tooth enamel to reconstruct summer and winter temperatures in the Late Pleistocene when Neandertals were using the site of La Ferrassie. Our results indicate that, despite the generally cold conditions of the broader period and despite direct evidence for cold features in certain sediments at the site, Neandertals used the site predominantly when climatic conditions were mild, similar to conditions in modern day France. We suggest that due to millennial scale climate variability, the periods of human activity and their climatic characteristics may not be representative of average conditions inferred from chronological correlations with long-term climatic records. These results highlight the importance of using direct routes, such as the high-resolution archives in tooth enamel from anthropogenically accumulated faunal assemblages, to establish climatic conditions at a human scale. The study of Pleistocene human behavior is intimately connected to the environmental context in which human activity took place. During the Late Pleistocene, Europe was characterized by rapidly oscillating climatic shifts of dramatic magnitude 1,2. Such changes would have posed significant challenges for all hominins, requiring great flexibility and resilience. However, how and to what degree hominin groups responded to harsh and rapidly changing climatic conditions in Late Pleistocene Europe is both debated and remains poorly understood, largely due to a lack of high resolution climate records that can be sufficiently linked to archaeological evidence. Specifically, while excellent local and global climate archives do exist 3-6 , the low precision in chronological dating methods for the archaeological record and for relevant climate archives often leads to a high uncertainty in correlating climatic data obtained from spatially removed archives with archaeological evidence of human activity.

Research paper thumbnail of A New Methodology for Understanding How Bone Wears Using 3D Surface Texture Analysis

The 82nd Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of A Howiesons Poort tradition of engraving ostrich eggshell containers dated to 60,000 years ago at Diepkloof Rock Shelter, South Africa

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Mar 1, 2010

Ongoing debates about the emergence of modern human behavior, however defined, regularly incorpor... more Ongoing debates about the emergence of modern human behavior, however defined, regularly incorporate observations from the later part of the southern African Middle Stone Age and emphasize the early appearance of artifacts thought to reflect symbolic practice. Here we report a large sample of 270 fragments of intentionally marked ostrich eggshell from the Howiesons Poort at Diepkloof Rock Shelter, Western Cape, South Africa. Dating from ≈60,000 years ago, these pieces attest to an engraving tradition that is the earliest reliable evidence of what is a widespread modern practice. These abstract linear depictions were made on functional items (eggshell containers), which were curated and involved in daily hunter-gatherer life. The standardized production of repetitive patterns, including a hatched band motif, suggests a system of symbolic representation in which collective identities and individual expressions are clearly communicated, suggesting social, cultural, and cognitive underpinnings that overlap with those of modern people.

Research paper thumbnail of Gibraltar data are too sparse to inform on Neanderthal exploitation of coastal resources

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Dec 23, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Integrating Faunal and Lithic Data to examine Neandertal Subsistence at the Late Mousterian Site of Abri Peyrony, France

The 81st Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 2017

Research paper thumbnail of Virtual skeletons: using a structured light scanner to create a 3D faunal comparative collection

Journal of Archaeological Science, Sep 1, 2009

Appropriate comparative animal skeletons are not always available to faunal analysts for use in i... more Appropriate comparative animal skeletons are not always available to faunal analysts for use in identifying archaeofaunal remains. This is especially pertinent when working in locations where no comparative collections are available locally, and the archaeological assemblage cannot be transported to another facility. In order to fill this gap, we are building a virtual comparative faunal collection using a structured light

Research paper thumbnail of Intertidal shellfish use during the Middle and Later Stone Age of South Africa

Archaeofauna, Oct 1, 2008

Middle Stone Age (MSA; 250,000 to 50,000 years ago) and Later Stone Age (LSA; 50,000 years ago to... more Middle Stone Age (MSA; 250,000 to 50,000 years ago) and Later Stone Age (LSA; 50,000 years ago to historic times) archaeological sites along the coast of South Africa frequently preserve the remains of marine shellfish, primarily limpets, mussels, and turban shells. These sites are found in two distinct biogeographic regions, the west, Atlantic Ocean coast and the south, Indian Ocean coast, with different marine environments influencing the shellfish species available for human exploitation. We are currently excavating Ysterfontein 1, a Middle Stone Age shell midden on the west coast. Analyses of the mollusks from Ysterfontein 1 and other MSA and LSA assemblages illuminate ancient subsistence practices, environmental changes, and human population densities, and we particularly aim to address issues surrounding the emergence of fully modern humans. The abundance of shells in many sites demonstrates that mollusks were an important source of food for both MSA and LSA people. Throughout the MSA and LSA, the proportions of different shellfish species change through time, suggesting that changing sea levels or ocean conditions may have influenced the available species. However, in many respects MSA and LSA assemblages are different from each other. The MSA samples have a lower diversity of shellfish species than LSA samples; they are poor in granular limpets; and they lack fish and rock lobster, which are common in many coastal LSA assemblages. In general, limpets and turban shells are larger in MSA assemblages than they are in LSA samples. We believe the sum suggests that MSA people foraged less intensively than LSA people, perhaps because they lived at lower population densities.Keywords: Mollusks, Shellfish, Limpets, South Africa, Middle Stone Age, Later Stone Age, Human population density, Modern human originsResumen:Los yacimientos costeros del Paleolitico Medio (MSA; 250.000 - 50.000 anos) y Tardio (LSA; 50.000 anos hasta tiempos historicos) en Sudafrica frecuentemente incorporan restos de conchas marinas, principalmente lapas, mejillones y bigaros. Estos yacimientos se localizan en dos regiones biogeograficas, la occidental en la costa atlantica y la oriental en la costa meridional del Indico, con distintos ambientes marinos que determinan las especies disponibles para la recoleccion. Actualmente se excava Ysterfontein 1 un conchero del Paleolitico Medio en la costa occidental que, junto con otros del Paleolitico Tardio atestiguan antiguas practicas de subsistencia asi como cambios ambientales y densidades preteritas de poblaciones humanas que se confia ayuden a aclarar cuestiones relativas a la aparicion de los humanos modernos. La abundancia de conchas apunta a la importancia de los moluscos en las dietas tanto durante la MSA como la LSA. A lo largo de ambos periodos, las frecuencias de las distintas especies cambiaron sugiriendo que bien los cambiantes niveles del mar como las condiciones oceanicas pueden haber influenciado que especies estaban mas disponibles en cada momento. No obstante, desde varias perspectivas, las asociaciones del Paleolitico Medio y Tardio difieren entre si. Las muestras del Paleolitico Medio exhiben una menor diversidad de especies, son pobres en lapas y carecen de restos de peces y bogavantes, especies comunes en las muestras del Paleolitico Tardio. En general, tanto los bigaros como las lapas son mayores en el Paleolitico Medio que en el Tardio y todo ello nos sugiere que las gentes de la etapa MSA mariscaban de un modo menos intenso de lo que lo hicieron las poblaciones de la etapa posterior, quizas por vivir a mas bajas densidades de poblacion.Palabras clave: Moluscos, Marisco, Lapa, Sudafrica, Paleolitico Medio, Paleolitico Tardio, Densidad de poblacion humana, Origen de los humanos modernos

Research paper thumbnail of Excavations at Klipfonteinrand Reveal Local and Regional Patterns of Adaptation and Interaction Through MIS 2 in Southern Africa

Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology, Dec 16, 2019

Research interest in patterns of cultural transmission in the southern African Palaeolithic is co... more Research interest in patterns of cultural transmission in the southern African Palaeolithic is complicated by poor resolution of site occupation, technological behaviour, and underlying environmental conditions. Here, we describe the Pleistocene Later Stone Age sequence from Klipfonteinrand rock shelter, dating 22.3-13.4 ka, in light of local and regional data. Analysis of chronology, stratigraphy, wood charcoal, fauna, and lithics suggest an early termination for the Robberg technocomplex, with a locally adaptive response to declining humidity emerging by~16 ka. Subsequent Oakhurst-aligned systems are in place by~14.4 ka, associated with diminished intensity of site use and drier conditions. Technological responses in the post-Robberg interval appear to differ between sites in coastal and interior areas, despite evidence for interaction between the two in this period. The results suggest a complex mix of local adaptation and interregional transmission through MIS 2.

Research paper thumbnail of Late Pleistocene Subsistence Strategies and Resource Intensification in Africa

Springer eBooks, 2009

... A zooarchaeological study not only considers the species present and their relative abundance... more ... A zooarchaeological study not only considers the species present and their relative abundance, but also cut-marks and breakage patterns, skeletal part representation, prey mortality profiles, carnivore impacts, etc. Zooarchaeologists ...

Research paper thumbnail of Saint-Avit-Sénieur

Archéologie de la France-informations, Feb 10, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Initial Investigations into the Exploitation of Coastal Resources in North Africa During the Late Pleistocene at Grotte Des Contrebandiers, Morocco

Interdisciplinary contributions to archaeology, 2011

While there has long been an interest in Holocene coastal adaptations globally (see other papers ... more While there has long been an interest in Holocene coastal adaptations globally (see other papers in this volume and Erlandson 2001), only more recently has attention focused on marine resource exploitation during the more ancient times of the Middle Paleolithic (MP) and Middle ...

Research paper thumbnail of The Ysterfontein 1 Middle Stone Age site, South Africa, and early human exploitation of coastal resources

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Mar 8, 2004

Human fossils and the genetics of extant human populations indicate that living people derive pri... more Human fossils and the genetics of extant human populations indicate that living people derive primarily from an African population that lived within the last 200,000 years. Yet it was only ≈50,000 years ago that the descendants of this population spread to Eurasia, where they swamped or replaced the Neanderthals and other nonmodern Eurasians. Based on archaeological observations, the most plausible hypothesis for the delay is that Africans and Eurasians were behaviorally similar until 50,000 years ago, and it was only at this time that Africans developed a behavioral advantage. The archaeological findings come primarily from South Africa, where they suggest that the advantage involved much more effective use of coastal resources. Until now, the evidence has come mostly from deeply stratified caves on the south (Indian Ocean) coast. Here, we summarize results from recent excavations at Ysterfontein 1, a deeply stratified shelter in a contrasting environment on the west (Atlantic) coast. The Ysterfontein 1 samples of human food debris must be enlarged for a full comparison to samples from other relevant sites, but they already corroborate two inferences drawn from south coast sites: ( i ) coastal foragers before 50,000 years ago did not fish routinely, probably for lack of appropriate technology, and ( ii ) they collected tortoises and shellfish less intensively than later people, probably because their populations were smaller.

Research paper thumbnail of Life in the Margins: The Pre-Still Bay Deposits from Varsche Rivier 003, Southern Namaqualand, South Africa

The 86th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Cultural transitions in the north African middle stone age: A view from Morocco

Research paper thumbnail of Coastal marine resource exploitation during the Late Pleistocene at Contrebandiers Cave (Temara, Morocco)

The 81st Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Mollusk and tortoise size as proxies for stone age population density in South Africa: Implications for the evolution of human cultural capacity

Résumé/Abstract Research on the evolution of fully modern human cognitive capacities and cultural... more Résumé/Abstract Research on the evolution of fully modern human cognitive capacities and cultural behaviors has flourished in recent years. Here, we focus on distinguishing between the two best-described models. The first hypothesizes a rapid, abrupt development of fully ...

Research paper thumbnail of Provisioning Responses to Environmental Change in South Africa’s Winter Rainfall Zone: MIS 5-2

Studies in human ecology and adaptation, Nov 10, 2017

The later Middle Stone Age of southern Africa witnesses a number of important changes in lithic t... more The later Middle Stone Age of southern Africa witnesses a number of important changes in lithic technology including the early appearance of bifacial point and microlithic systems. Though radiometric ages for these changes remain contested, they can in places be reconciled with elements of climatic variation. This paper examines the organization of provisioning systems through four successive industrial phases – the Still Bay, early Howiesons Poort, later Howiesons Poort, and post-Howiesons Poort – using data from rock-shelters and open sites. We show that the dominant means of technological delivery shifted from individual to place provisioning and back to individual provisioning through these industries, likely reflecting variation in humidity through the last glacial. We also show that the apparent abundance of sites and richness of assemblages in industries such as the Howiesons Poort may be in part a consequence of a research focus on rock-shelters; we found limited evidence for Howiesons Poort sites in the open. This is in contrast to the other industries, most clearly the Still Bay, for which we identified several large open-air gearing-up locations. Finally, we suggest that while interrogation of the archaeological record at the industry level is viable, it also masks behaviorally meaningful variation that should serve to encourage finer-scaled analyses.

Research paper thumbnail of The new <sup>14</sup> C chronology for the Palaeolithic site of La Ferrassie, France: the disappearance of Neanderthals and the arrival of <i>Homo sapiens</i> in France

Journal of Quaternary Science, Aug 24, 2020

The grand abri at La Ferrassie (France) has been a key site for Palaeolithic research since the e... more The grand abri at La Ferrassie (France) has been a key site for Palaeolithic research since the early part of the 20th century. It became the eponymous site for one variant of Middle Palaeolithic stone tools, and its sequence was used to define stages of the Aurignacian, an early phase of the Upper Palaeolithic. Several Neanderthal remains, including two relatively intact skeletons, make it one of the most important sites for the study of Neanderthal morphology and one of the more important data sets when discussing the Neanderthal treatment of the dead. However, the site has remained essentially undated. Our goal here is to provide a robust chronological framework of the La Ferrassie sequence to be used for broad regional models about human behaviour during the late Middle to Upper Palaeolithic periods. To achieve this goal, we used a combination of modern excavation methods, extensive geoarchaeological analyses, and radiocarbon dating. If we accept that Neanderthals were responsible for the Châtelperronian, then our results suggest an overlap of ca. 1600 years with the newly arrived Homo sapiens found elsewhere in France.

Research paper thumbnail of The Middle and Later Stone Age faunal remains from Diepkloof Rock Shelter, Western Cape, South Africa

Journal of Archaeological Science, Sep 1, 2013

ABSTRACT The faunal sample from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) and overlying Later Stone Age (LSA) de... more ABSTRACT The faunal sample from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) and overlying Later Stone Age (LSA) deposits of Diepkloof Rock Shelter (Western Cape Province, South Africa) includes at least 40 taxa, mostly mammals, but also tortoises, snakes, birds (especially ostrich represented by eggshell), and intertidal mollusks. The LSA sample contains only species that occurred nearby historically, including domestic sheep, which LSA people introduced to the region by 1800 years ago. In contrast, like other Western Cape MSA faunas, the Diepkloof MSA sample has more species and it is especially notable for five large extralimital grazing species. These imply a greater-than-historic role for grasses in the local vegetation, particularly in the post-Howiesons Poort (latest MSA) interval where the grazers appear most abundant. Extreme fragmentation and dark-staining impedes analysis of the MSA bones, but cut-marks, abundant burning, and numerous associated artifacts suggest that people were the main accumulators. Rare coprolites imply that carnivores could have contributed some bones, and concentrations of small mammal bones, particularly near the bottom of the MSA sequence, suggest a role for raptors. Tortoise bones are common throughout the sequence, and the MSA specimens tend to be especially large, as in other MSA assemblages. The LSA specimens are smaller, probably because LSA human populations were denser and preyed on tortoises more intensively. The most surprising aspect of the Diepkloof assemblage is its marine component. The coast is currently 14 km away and it would have been even more distant during much of the MSA when sea levels were often lower. Intertidal mollusks, particularly black mussels and granite limpets, are concentrated in the LSA and in the Late and Post-Howiesons Poort layers. Only LSA shells are complete enough for measurement, and the limpets are small as at other LSA sites. The implication is again for more intense LSA collection by relatively dense human populations. Both the LSA and MSA deposits also contain bones of shorebirds and Cape fur seals. Whale barnacles and occasional dolphin bones indicate that MSA people scavenged beached cetaceans.

Research paper thumbnail of Neandertal Subsistence at the Late Mousterian Site of Abri Peyrony, France

Beginning in 2009, the late Middle Paleolithic site of Abri Peyrony (also Haut de Combe-Capelle, ... more Beginning in 2009, the late Middle Paleolithic site of Abri Peyrony
(also Haut de Combe-Capelle, as part of the Combe-Capelle sites,
Dordogne, France) was reopened. Three seasons of eldwork
yielded rich lithic and faunal assemblages, as well as pieces of
manganese dioxide, bone tools, and much needed information
about the site’s formation and antiquity. The site yielded only
Mousterian levels. Level L-3A is attributed to the Mousterian of
Acheulian Tradition (MTA). The remaining levels, including the
underlying level L-3B, demonstrate similarities in blank production
but are not MTA. Thus, the Abri Peyrony faunal assemblage
provides an opportunity to study the relationship between
changes in lithic technology and subsistence through a
detailed zooarchaeological analysis of a highly-resolved faunal
assemblage.

Research paper thumbnail of Niven, L., Steele, T.E., Finke, H., Gernat, T. and J.-J. Hublin (2009) Virtual skeletons: using a structured light scanner to create a 3D faunal comparative collection. Journal of Archaeological Science. 36:2018-2023.

Journal of Archaeological …, Jan 1, 2009

Appropriate comparative animal skeletons are not always available to faunal analysts for use in i... more Appropriate comparative animal skeletons are not always available to faunal analysts for use in identifying archaeofaunal remains. This is especially pertinent when working in locations where no comparative collections are available locally, and the archaeological assemblage cannot be transported to another facility. In order to fill this gap, we are building a virtual comparative faunal collection using a structured light scanner to scan modern skeletal material in 3D. The resulting high resolution 3D color models are a valuable resource for identifying fossil specimens. Scan data can be converted into a variety of formats for viewing and can be transported on a portable digital device for use at field or laboratory localities. In addition, scans can be printed three dimensionally to produce a replica of the scanned skeletal part. A particular advantage of this digital technology is that we can eventually create a complete 3D representation of a taxon's skeleton from scans of several components of what are incomplete skeletons of one animal taxon in a museum collection. The results of our project thus far are available to other researchers and educators by means of the internet. A variety of interested parties could benefit from such a collection, including zooarchaeologists, paleontologists, biologists, teachers and museum curators.

Research paper thumbnail of A multi-method luminescence dating of the Palaeolithic sequence of La Ferrassie based on new excavations adjacent to the La Ferrassie 1 and 2 skeletons

A new interdisciplinary project was initiated to excavate a portion of the Palaeolithic site of L... more A new interdisciplinary project was initiated to excavate a portion of the Palaeolithic site of La Ferrassie left intact by earlier excavations. One of the aims of this project was to provide chronological information on the succession of Middle and Upper Palaeolithic layers, as well as on the skeletons unearthed by Capitan and Peyrony in the early 1900's. We report here preliminary results on the lithics, faunal remains, site formation processes, and on the stratigraphic context of the La Ferrassie 1 and 2 skeletons that were found adjacent to our excavations. Finally, results from luminescence dating of the sediments and a preliminary set of radiocarbon ages are presented. Quartz OSL, both at the multi-grain and single-grain levels of analysis, and post-IR IRSL of feldspar at various stimulation temperatures are compared. The quartz/feldspar comparison revealed a bleaching problem for the quartz OSL (and the feldspar pIRIR signals) from Layer 2; as a consequence, the age of this Layer was determined using a minimum age model.

Research paper thumbnail of Richards, M.P. et al. (2008) Isotopic dietary analysis of a Neanderthal and associated fauna from the site of Jonzac (Charente-Maritime), France. Journal of Human Evolution. 55:179-185.

Journal of human …, Jan 1, 2008

We report here on the isotopic analysis (carbon and nitrogen) of collagen extracted from a Neande... more We report here on the isotopic analysis (carbon and nitrogen) of collagen extracted from a Neanderthal tooth and animal bone from the late Mousterian site of Jonzac (Charente-Maritime, France). This study was undertaken to test whether the isotopic evidence indicates that animal protein was the main source of dietary protein for this relatively late Neanderthal, as suggested by previous studies. This was of particular interest here because this is the first isotopic study of a relatively late Neanderthal associated with Mousterian of Acheulian Tradition (MTA, dating to approximately 55,000 to 40,000 BP) technology. We found that the Jonzac Neanderthal had isotopic values consistent with a diet in which the main protein sources were large herbivores, particularly bovids and horses. We also found evidence of different dietary niches between the Neanderthal and a hyena at the site, with the hyena consuming mainly reindeer.

Research paper thumbnail of Neandertals made the first specialized bone tools in Europe

Two recently excavated Mousterian of Acheulian Tradition (MTA) sites, Pech-de-l'Azé I (Pech I) an... more Two recently excavated Mousterian of Acheulian Tradition (MTA) sites, Pech-de-l'Azé I (Pech I) and Abri Peyrony, located ∼35 km from each other on separate tributaries of the Dordogne river in southwest France ( , yielded nearly identical fragments of bone with smoothed edges and a rounded tip , Figs. S1-S4, and SI Appendix, Section S5). The three Abri Peyrony bones were recovered from two levels (3A and 3B) within layer L-3 ( , and SI Appendix, Section S2). This layer is composed of limestone fragments and detritus derived from the backing cliff, and it rests on the bedrock. The layer was cemented during or shortly after deposition by calcium carbonate from a groundwater seep at the base of the cliffline. This cementation prevented postdepositional disturbance (e.g., bioturbation) from affecting the deposit, and an intact combustion feature in level L-3A demonstrates minimal postdepositional disturbance. The lithics from level L-3A include handaxe thinning flakes, cordiform handaxes, and backed knives typical of the MTA. The level L-3B lithics are very similar with regard to blank

Research paper thumbnail of The age of the hominin fossils from Jebel Irhoud, Morocco, and the origins of the Middle Stone Age

The timing and location of the emergence of our species and of associated behavioural changes are... more The timing and location of the emergence of our species and of associated behavioural changes are crucial for our understanding of human evolution. The earliest fossil attributed to a modern form of Homo sapiens comes from eastern Africa and is approximately 195 thousand years old 1,2 , therefore the emergence of modern human biology is commonly placed at around 200 thousand years ago 3,4. The earliest Middle Stone Age assemblages come from eastern and southern Africa but date much earlier 5–7. Here we report the ages, determined by thermoluminescence dating, of fire-heated flint artefacts obtained from new excavations at the Middle Stone Age site of Jebel Irhoud, Morocco, which are directly associated with newly discovered remains of H. sapiens 8. A weighted average age places these Middle Stone Age artefacts and fossils at 315 ± 34 thousand years ago. Support is obtained through the recalculated uranium series with electron spin resonance date of 286 ± 32 thousand years ago for a tooth from the Irhoud 3 hominin mandible. These ages are also consistent with the faunal and microfaunal 9 assemblages and almost double the previous age estimates for the lower part of the deposits 10,11. The north African site of Jebel Irhoud contains one of the earliest directly dated Middle Stone Age assemblages, and its associated human remains are the oldest reported for H. sapiens. The emergence of our species and of the Middle Stone Age appear to be close in time, and these data suggest a larger scale, potentially pan-African, origin for both.

Research paper thumbnail of Non-destructive ZooMS identification reveals strategic bone tool raw material selection by Neandertals

Scientific Reports, 2020

Five nearly identical fragments of specialized bone tools, interpreted as lissoirs (French for "s... more Five nearly identical fragments of specialized bone tools, interpreted as lissoirs (French for "smoothers"), have been found at two Middle Paleolithic sites in southwest France. The finds span three separate archaeological deposits, suggesting continuity in the behavior of late Neandertals. Using standard morphological assessments, we determined that the lissoirs were produced on ribs of medium-sized ungulates. However, since these bones are highly fragmented and anthropogenically modified, species determinations were challenging. Also, conservative curation policy recommends minimizing destructive sampling of rare, fragile, or small artifacts for molecular identification methods. To better understand raw material selection for these five lissoirs, we reassess their taxonomy using a non-destructive ZooMS methodology based on triboelectric capture of collagen. We sampled four storage containers and obtained identifiable MALDI-TOF MS collagen fingerprints, all indicative of the same taxonomic clade, which includes aurochs and bison (Bos sp. and Bison sp.). The fifth specimen, which was stored in a plastic bag, provided no useful MALDI-TOF MS spectra. We show that the choice of large bovid ribs in an archaeological layer dominated by reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) demonstrates strategic selection by these Neandertals. Furthermore, our results highlight the value of a promising technique for the non-destructive analysis of bone artifacts.