d’Errico, F., Henshilwood, C., Vanhaeren, M., van Niekerk. K. 2005. Nassarius kraussianus shell beads from Blombos Cave: Evidence for symbolic behaviour in the Middle Stone Age. Journal of Human Evolution 48:3-24. (original) (raw)

Abstract

Since 1991, excavations at Blombos Cave have yielded a well-preserved sample of faunal and cultural material in Middle Stone Age (MSA) levels. The uppermost MSA phase, M1, is dated to c. 75 ka by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and thermoluminescence, and the middle M2 phase to a provisional c. 78 ka. Artefacts unusual in a MSA context from these phases include bifacial points, bone tools, engraved ochre and engraved bone. In this paper, we describe forty-one marine tick shell beads recovered from these MSA phases and tick shell beads from Later Stone Age (LSA) levels at Blombos Cave and the Die Kelders site. Thirty-nine shell beads come from the upper M1 phase and two from M2. Morphometric, taphonomic and microscopic analysis of modern assemblages of living and dead tick shell demonstrate that the presence of perforated Nassarius kraussianus shells in the Blombos MSA levels cannot be due to natural processes or accidental transport by humans. The types of perforation seen on the MSA shells are absent on modern accumulations of dead shells and not attributable to post-depositional damage. Their location, size, and microscopic features are similar to those obtained experimentally by piercing the shell wall, through the aperture, with a sharp bone point. Use-wear, recorded on the perforation edge, the outer lip, and the parietal wall of the aperture indicates the shells having being strung and worn. MSA shell beads differ significantly in size, perforation type, wear pattern and shade compared to LSA beads and this eliminates the possibility of mixing across respective levels.

Figures (13)

Fig. 1. (a) location of Blombos Cave and Die Kelders; (b) map of the excavated area (white) with density of MSA shell beads per m7; (c) stratigraphy of Blombos Cave in square H6.

Fig. 1. (a) location of Blombos Cave and Die Kelders; (b) map of the excavated area (white) with density of MSA shell beads per m7; (c) stratigraphy of Blombos Cave in square H6.

Fig. 2. Perforated Nassarius kraussianus beads from LSA layers and MSA Phases M1 and M2 at Blombos Cave. Numbers refer tc Table 1. In the MSA levels at BBC forty-one perforated Nassarius kraussianus (Dunker) shell beads were recovered during 1992—2002 (Fig. 2). Thirty-nine shell beads come from the upper MSA phase, M1, two derive from the M2 phase (Fig. lc, Table 1). All the M1 levels yielded beads and those from M2 come from the uppermost level, CF. Beads came from seven out of the twenty excavated squares (Fig. 1b). During the course of excavations Half of the shell beads recovered from the M1 phase come from square E4 and a quarter from

Fig. 2. Perforated Nassarius kraussianus beads from LSA layers and MSA Phases M1 and M2 at Blombos Cave. Numbers refer tc Table 1. In the MSA levels at BBC forty-one perforated Nassarius kraussianus (Dunker) shell beads were recovered during 1992—2002 (Fig. 2). Thirty-nine shell beads come from the upper MSA phase, M1, two derive from the M2 phase (Fig. lc, Table 1). All the M1 levels yielded beads and those from M2 come from the uppermost level, CF. Beads came from seven out of the twenty excavated squares (Fig. 1b). During the course of excavations Half of the shell beads recovered from the M1 phase come from square E4 and a quarter from

* = isolated recovery, P = perforation edge, L = lip, W = parietal wall Contextual and descriptive data on Nassarius kraussianus shell beads from the Middle Stone Age levels of Blombos Cave. Shells are listed in stratigraphic order. Figures in the ““Group” column associate shells recovered in a single square or in two adjacent sub-squares during a single excavation day, interpreted as lost or disposed beadwork items. Perforation types are those illustrated in Fig. 3b

* = isolated recovery, P = perforation edge, L = lip, W = parietal wall Contextual and descriptive data on Nassarius kraussianus shell beads from the Middle Stone Age levels of Blombos Cave. Shells are listed in stratigraphic order. Figures in the ““Group” column associate shells recovered in a single square or in two adjacent sub-squares during a single excavation day, interpreted as lost or disposed beadwork items. Perforation types are those illustrated in Fig. 3b

DK = Die Kelders “ modern thanatocoenosis hand gathered throughout the estuary * modern thanatocoenosis found accumulated at a single spot ¥ hand gathered living population Frequency of perforation types (see Fig. 3b) on the dorsal and the ventral side of Nassarius kraussianus shells from modern ar archaeological assemblages

DK = Die Kelders “ modern thanatocoenosis hand gathered throughout the estuary * modern thanatocoenosis found accumulated at a single spot ¥ hand gathered living population Frequency of perforation types (see Fig. 3b) on the dorsal and the ventral side of Nassarius kraussianus shells from modern ar archaeological assemblages

Fig. 3. (a) Juvenile (1), sub-adult (2-4) and adult (5) Nassarius kraussianus shells from the modern biocenosis of Duiwenhoks estuary (Cape Province, South Africa) showing gradual size increase and thickening of the lip (solid line); (b) perforation types observed on N. kraussianus shells from modern and archaeological collections. The shaded area indicates the variability in hole location.

Fig. 3. (a) Juvenile (1), sub-adult (2-4) and adult (5) Nassarius kraussianus shells from the modern biocenosis of Duiwenhoks estuary (Cape Province, South Africa) showing gradual size increase and thickening of the lip (solid line); (b) perforation types observed on N. kraussianus shells from modern and archaeological collections. The shaded area indicates the variability in hole location.

Fig. 4. (a) ventral aspect and (b) close-up view of a modern N. kraussianus with hole drilled by Natica tecta; (c-l) dorsal aspects and close-up views of shells from Goukou estuary showing perforations corresponding to different stages of natural erosion. Scale bars = 1 mm. It can be argued that N. kraussianus shells were, brought to the site by MSA people, and that the peculiar perforation types seen on them were produced by post-depositional taphonomic pro- cesses such as decalcification, trampling, and/or sediment compaction. Decalcification is discarded in the light of our analysis of modern thanatocoe- noses. Considering the sedimentary environment of N. kraussianus thanatocoenoses (mud in brack- ish calm water), decalcification is considered the only post-mortem agent of alteration on modern shells. Of the various assemblages of dead shells we collected in the estuaries, between 17.9% and 30.6% had keyhole perforations due to gradual decalcification. Decalcification first affects the tip (smallest spiral whorls), then base and lateral area of the dorsal side producing one or more sub- millimetric perforations because here the shell wall is thinnest (Fig. 3b Types 1-3). The process then continues to enlarge these holes (Fig. 3b Types 4-7) until they join (Fig. 3b Type 8). In the final stage of

Fig. 4. (a) ventral aspect and (b) close-up view of a modern N. kraussianus with hole drilled by Natica tecta; (c-l) dorsal aspects and close-up views of shells from Goukou estuary showing perforations corresponding to different stages of natural erosion. Scale bars = 1 mm. It can be argued that N. kraussianus shells were, brought to the site by MSA people, and that the peculiar perforation types seen on them were produced by post-depositional taphonomic pro- cesses such as decalcification, trampling, and/or sediment compaction. Decalcification is discarded in the light of our analysis of modern thanatocoe- noses. Considering the sedimentary environment of N. kraussianus thanatocoenoses (mud in brack- ish calm water), decalcification is considered the only post-mortem agent of alteration on modern shells. Of the various assemblages of dead shells we collected in the estuaries, between 17.9% and 30.6% had keyhole perforations due to gradual decalcification. Decalcification first affects the tip (smallest spiral whorls), then base and lateral area of the dorsal side producing one or more sub- millimetric perforations because here the shell wall is thinnest (Fig. 3b Types 1-3). The process then continues to enlarge these holes (Fig. 3b Types 4-7) until they join (Fig. 3b Type 8). In the final stage of

Fig. 6. (a) marine gastropods from Blombos Cave M1 phase, layer CC; (b-e) macro- and microscopic views of two shells revealing no signs of abrasion. a: scale bar = | cm, b and d: scale bar = 5 mm, c and e: scale bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 6. (a) marine gastropods from Blombos Cave M1 phase, layer CC; (b-e) macro- and microscopic views of two shells revealing no signs of abrasion. a: scale bar = | cm, b and d: scale bar = 5 mm, c and e: scale bar = 1 mm.

Fig. 7. Nassarius kraussianus shells experimentally perforated by punching through the aperture with a lithic point (a-e); from the outside with a lithic point (f-h), from the outside with a bone point (i-k), through the aperture with a bone point (I-o) and a crab claw (p); (h and k) micro-chipping on the internal shell wall, (d-e, m-p): micro-chipping on the outer shell wall.

Fig. 7. Nassarius kraussianus shells experimentally perforated by punching through the aperture with a lithic point (a-e); from the outside with a lithic point (f-h), from the outside with a bone point (i-k), through the aperture with a bone point (I-o) and a crab claw (p); (h and k) micro-chipping on the internal shell wall, (d-e, m-p): micro-chipping on the outer shell wall.

Fig. 8. Nassarius kraussianus from MSA (a and d), LSA (g) levels at Blombos Cave, and Goukou estuary (j). SEM micrographs (b-c and e-f) reveal on MSA specimens wear facets (arrows) that flatten the parietal wall and the lip close to the anterior canal absent on LSA and modern shells (h-i and k-l). Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 8. Nassarius kraussianus from MSA (a and d), LSA (g) levels at Blombos Cave, and Goukou estuary (j). SEM micrographs (b-c and e-f) reveal on MSA specimens wear facets (arrows) that flatten the parietal wall and the lip close to the anterior canal absent on LSA and modern shells (h-i and k-l). Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 9. (a) Close-up view of an MSA Nassarius kraussianus with wear facets (dotted lines) located on the parietal wall and the lip close o the anterior canal; (b) wear facet revealing the inner structure of the shell; (c-d) SEM micrographs of a wear facet on the parietal wall lose to anterior canal showing distinctly oriented 1 um wide striations; a: scale bar = 1 mm, b: scale bar = 250 um, c: scale yar = 200 um, d: scale bar = 500 pm.

Fig. 9. (a) Close-up view of an MSA Nassarius kraussianus with wear facets (dotted lines) located on the parietal wall and the lip close o the anterior canal; (b) wear facet revealing the inner structure of the shell; (c-d) SEM micrographs of a wear facet on the parietal wall lose to anterior canal showing distinctly oriented 1 um wide striations; a: scale bar = 1 mm, b: scale bar = 250 um, c: scale yar = 200 um, d: scale bar = 500 pm.

Fig. 10. SEM micrographs of Nassarius kraussianus lips. (a) modern biocoenosis, (b) modern thanathocoenosis, (c) LSA and (d-f) MSA assemblages from Blombos Cave. MSA. Wear facets on MSA shells show | pm wide striations absent on modern and LSA shells. Scale bars = 200 pm.

Fig. 10. SEM micrographs of Nassarius kraussianus lips. (a) modern biocoenosis, (b) modern thanathocoenosis, (c) LSA and (d-f) MSA assemblages from Blombos Cave. MSA. Wear facets on MSA shells show | pm wide striations absent on modern and LSA shells. Scale bars = 200 pm.

Fig. 11. Length distribution of N. kraussianus shells; (a) living population collected by sieving at the Duiwenhoks estuary; (b) hand-gathered living population from the Goukou estuary; (c) hand-gathered modern thanatocoenosis from Duiwenhoks estuary; (d) hand-gathered modern thanatocoenosis from Goukou estuary; (e) accumulation of N. kraussianus shells drilled by Natica tecta from Duiwenhoks estuary; (f) archae- ological N. kraussianus from the LSA at Die Kelders Cave; (g) archaeological N. kraussianus from the LSA at Blombos Cave; (h) archaeological N. kraussianus from the MSA at Blombos Cave. Figures for each population are provided in Table 2. Acknowledgements

Fig. 11. Length distribution of N. kraussianus shells; (a) living population collected by sieving at the Duiwenhoks estuary; (b) hand-gathered living population from the Goukou estuary; (c) hand-gathered modern thanatocoenosis from Duiwenhoks estuary; (d) hand-gathered modern thanatocoenosis from Goukou estuary; (e) accumulation of N. kraussianus shells drilled by Natica tecta from Duiwenhoks estuary; (f) archae- ological N. kraussianus from the LSA at Die Kelders Cave; (g) archaeological N. kraussianus from the LSA at Blombos Cave; (h) archaeological N. kraussianus from the MSA at Blombos Cave. Figures for each population are provided in Table 2. Acknowledgements

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