Umhlatuzana rockshelter is an archaeological site with an occupational record covering the Middle Stone Age, Later Stone Age, and Iron Age. The presence of both Middle and Later Stone Age... Show moreUmhlatuzana rockshelter is an archaeological site with an occupational record covering the Middle Stone Age, Later Stone Age, and Iron Age. The presence of both Middle and Later Stone Age assemblages makes Umhlatuzana the ideal location for the study of the MSA–LSA transition (20–40 ka) in southern Africa. This transitional period is characterized by important modifications in stone tool technology, from prepared core technology to a toolkit based on microlith production. These changes are argued to have occurred in response to changes in climate and environment leading up to the Last Glacial Maximum. The deposits bearing the transitional assemblages at Umhlatuzana rockshelter appear homogeneous with no visible stratigraphic boundaries. This study integrates geoarchaeological techniques in order to explore fine-resolution geochemical differentiations of the sediments that are macroscopically invisible, and that will provide insight into (post-)depositional processes over time. Samples were systematically retrieved from the western profile of the site following a grid-based sampling strategy and analyzed for pH, elemental composition (XRF), and Magnetic Susceptibility. Additionally, the results were integrated with preliminary micromorphological observations. Our study reveals a steady, gradual change in the geochemistry of the deposits throughout the Pleistocene, related to a combination of environmental change and occupation intensity. We suggest that the part of the sequence reported to bear Middle to Later Stone Age transitional industries is characterized by wetter environmental conditions compared to the underlying deposits. Additionally, we support results from previous studies that excluded large scale post-depositional movement of the sedimentary sequence. Our study offers a successful multi-proxy approach to systematically sample and study archaeological deposits at the macro and micro scale, integrating a variety of geoarchaeological techniques. The approach provides insight into the depositional and post-depositional history of the site, and allows for questions of stratigraphic integrity, anthropogenic input, preservation, and environmental change to be addressed. Show less
Umhlatuzana rockshelter is an archaeological site with an occupational record spanning the last ~70,000 years, covering the Middle Stone Age (MSA), Later Stone Age (LSA), and Iron Age. The deposits... Show moreUmhlatuzana rockshelter is an archaeological site with an occupational record spanning the last ~70,000 years, covering the Middle Stone Age (MSA), Later Stone Age (LSA), and Iron Age. The deposits bearing Pleistocene archaeological assemblages at Umhlatuzana rockshelter appear homogeneous with no macroscopically visible stratigraphic boundaries. This means the integrity of the archaeological assemblages is difficult to ascertain. Moreover, the sedimentation rate, taphonomic history, and the environmental context across the sequence are unclear. This study aims to resolve these issues by integrating different geoarchaeological techniques in order to explore fine-resolution geochemical differentiations of the sediments that are macroscopically invisible. Samples were systematically retrieved from the western profile of the site following a grid-based sampling strategy and analysed for pH, elemental composition (XRF), and Magnetic Susceptibility. These methods were chosen because they provide insight into ‘invisible’ geoarchaeological dynamics, related to sediment input (geogenic and anthropogenic), taphonomy, and environmental conditions. Additionally, the results were integrated with preliminary micromorphological observations. Our study reveals a gradual change in the geochemistry of the deposits throughout the Pleistocene, related to a combination of environmental change and occupation intensity. Furthermore, the gradual change within the geochemical data indicates that no large-scale sediment mixing took place (contrary to previous suggestions), while small-scale mixing related to bioturbation is visible in the micromorphological thin sections. Our study offers a successful multi-proxy approach to systematically sample and analyse archaeological deposits at the macro and micro scale, integrating a variety of geoarchaeological techniques. The approach provides insight into the depositional and postdepositional history of the site, and allows questions of stratigraphic integrity, anthropogenic input, preservation, and environmental change to be addressed. Show less
Throughout (pre)history, non-fint rocks have been used to structure freplaces, to retain heat, to boil liquids, and to cook food. Thus far, the identifcation of heated non-fint rocks in... Show moreThroughout (pre)history, non-fint rocks have been used to structure freplaces, to retain heat, to boil liquids, and to cook food. Thus far, the identifcation of heated non-fint rocks in archaeological contexts largely depends on a visual (macroscopic) assessment using criteria thought to be diagnostic for thermal alteration. However, visual identifcation can be subject to observer bias, and some heat-induced traces can be quite difcult to distinguish from other types of weathering or discolouration. In this paper, we present feldspar luminescence analysis as an independent, objective way to identify heated non-fint rocks and to evaluate the results against the established visual macroscopic method for the identifcation of such pieces. This is done by submitting manuported rocks with and without inferred macroscopic characteristics of heating, originating from the Last Interglacial, Middle Palaeolithic site Neumark-Nord 2/2 (Germany), to feldspar luminescence analysis (pIRIR290). Results of the feldspar luminescence analysis are compared with the visual assessments. This proof of concept study demonstrates the potential of luminescence analyses as an independent, quantitative method for the identifcation of heated rocks—and their prehistoric applications like hot-stone cooking, specifcally for cases where macroscopic assessment cannot provide reliable determinations Show less
The timing, environmental setting and archaeological signatures of an early human presence in northernEurope have been longstanding themes of Palaeolithic research. In the space of 20 years, the... Show moreThe timing, environmental setting and archaeological signatures of an early human presence in northernEurope have been longstanding themes of Palaeolithic research. In the space of 20 years, the earliestrecord of human occupation in Britain has been pushed back from 500 ka (Boxgrove) to 700 ka (Pakefield)and then to >800 ka (Happisburgh Site 3). Other sites also contribute to this record of humanoccupation; a second locality at Happisburgh, referred to as Site 1, attests to human presence at around500 ka (MIS 13). This paper provides the first comprehensive account of research undertaken at HappisburghSite 1 since 2000. The early human landscape and depositional environment was that of a riverfloodplain, where an active river channel, in which a grey sand was deposited, was abandoned, forming afloodplain lake, with marginal marsh/swamp environments, which was infilled with organic mud. Thissuccession is sealed by Middle Pleistocene glacial deposits. An assemblage of 199 flint flakes, flake toolsand cores was recovered from the grey sand and organic mud. The evidence from Happisburgh Site 1 isplaced in the context of the wider British and European MIS 13 record. The growing evidence for asignificant dispersal of humans into northern Europe around 500 ka raises critical questions concerningthe environmental conditions under which this took place. We also consider the evolutionary andbehavioural changes in human populations that might have enabled the more widespread and persistentperiod of human presence in northern Europe at this time. Show less
Sier, M.J.; Langereis, G.C.; Dupont-Nivet, G.; Feibel, C.S.; Joordens, J.C.A.; Van der Lubbe, H.J.L.; ... ; WTK Science team members 2017
The hominin record from southern Asia for the early Late Pleistocene epoch is scarce. Well-dated and well-preserved fossils older than ∼45,000 years that can be unequivocally attributed to Homo... Show moreThe hominin record from southern Asia for the early Late Pleistocene epoch is scarce. Well-dated and well-preserved fossils older than ∼45,000 years that can be unequivocally attributed to Homo sapiens are lacking. Here we present evidence from the newly excavated Fuyan Cave in Daoxian (southern China). This site has provided 47 human teeth dated to more than 80,000 years old, and with an inferred maximum age of 120,000 years. The morphological and metric assessment of this sample supports its unequivocal assignment to H. sapiens. The Daoxian sample is more derived than any other anatomically modern humans, resembling middle-to-late Late Pleistocene specimens and even contemporary humans. Our study shows that fully modern morphologies were present in southern China 30,000-70,000 years earlier than in the Levant and Europe. Our data fill a chronological and geographical gap that is relevant for understanding when H. sapiens first appeared in southern Asia. The Daoxian teeth also support the hypothesis that during the same period, southern China was inhabited by more derived populations than central and northern China. This evidence is important for the study of dispersal routes of modern humans. Finally, our results are relevant to exploring the reasons for the relatively late entry of H. sapiens into Europe. Some studies have investigated how the competition with H. sapiens may have caused Neanderthals' extinction (see ref. 8 and references therein). Notably, although fully modern humans were already present in southern China at least as early as ∼80,000 years ago, there is no evidence that they entered Europe before ∼45,000 years ago. This could indicate that H. neanderthalensis was indeed an additional ecological barrier for modern humans, who could only enter Europe when the demise of Neanderthals had already started. Show less
One of the key periods to understand the Neandertal ecological niche and tolerances in Europe is the Eemian. This interglacial stage is the last and best documented interglacial stage in which... Show moreOne of the key periods to understand the Neandertal ecological niche and tolerances in Europe is the Eemian. This interglacial stage is the last and best documented interglacial stage in which Neandertals were present in Europe. This study aims to contribute to the debate on Neandertal environmental tolerances of this period in Europe by improving our knowledge of the timing of Neandertal occupation. In order to further specify the timing and character of this occupation, detailed palaeomagnetic and environmental studies were carried out at the interglacial sites of Neumark Nord 2 (Germany), Rutten (The Netherlands), and Caours (France). For the Last Interglacial, a global stratigraphic marker has been documented, the so-called Blake Event. This palaeomagnetic event is recorded in both marine and terrestrial sediments and has been found in settings which allow direct correlation with the Marine Isotope Stage record. Our palaeomagnetic studies at Neumark Nord 2, Rutten and Caours have provided a strong indication for the presence of a palaeomagnetic event which we have identified as the Blake. We were able to correlate this Blake Event to the pollenzones of the Eemian sensu stricto at Rutten and at Neumark Nord 2. The observed position of the Blake Event in relation to the Eemian in north western and central Europe supports a time lag of 5000 years between the onset of the Eemian in the south and the northern-central parts of Europe. This result has consequences for views of the chronological and geographical limits of the Neanderthal range. As an example, our correlation indicates that both Neumark Nord 2 and Caours were occupied well after the MIS 5e global high sea level stand. This implies that during these occupations, easy access to the British Isles was blocked by the fully developed English Channel, possibly explaining the absence of hominins in what is now Great Britain at that period Show less
