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Inferring the palaeoecology of a MIS 5 layer from Klasies River main site using micromammal remains.

  • October 2021
DOI:10.13140/RG.2.2.16305.30567
  • Conference: Max Planck Institute Summer School 2021: Doorway to Human History
Authors:
Nompumelelo Maringa at University of the Witwatersrand
Nompumelelo Maringa
Sarah Wurz at University of the Witwatersrand
Sarah Wurz
Jerome Peter Reynard at University of the Witwatersrand
Jerome Peter Reynard
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Abstract

This research investigates the palaeoenvironmental conditions at Klasies River main site using micromammal remains. The micromammal material was recovered from a 110 000 year old layer from the Witness Baulk located in Cave 1. The micromammal remains are associated with rare anatomically modern human fossils. The palaeoenvironmental conditions are inferred based on taxa, diversity and palaeoenvironmental indices.
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Table 1: Units of Quantification.
Figure 2: The distribution of habitat types according to the THIveg.Figure 3: The characteristics of the environment according to the THItvod.
Number (N=)
Non-ID 3260
ID 2649
NSP 5909
NISP (crania) 1367
MNE (crania) 2184
MNI (crania) 147
NISP (post
cranial)
1456
Inferring the palaeoecology of a MIS 5 layer from
Klasies River Main Site using micromammal remains.
Introduction
Klasies River main site (KRM) is located along the
Tsitsikamma coast (Figure 1a) in the Eastern Cape
province, South Africa (Singer & Wymer 1982; Wurz et al.
2018). The site is surrounded by thicket, fynbos, forest and
coastal vegetation (Figure 1b). Archaeological sites in the
southern Cape coast yield the longest record of human
occupation in South Africa (Loftus et al.2019). Hunter-
gatherer-fishers intensely occupied these coastal sites
leaving an abundant accumulation of cultural and
subsistence remains (Wurz et al.2018). The micromammal
remains from KRM are associated with rare anatomically
modern human fossils (Grine et al.2017; Wurz et al. 2018).
Three micromammal studies have been conducted at the
site but the previous two studies analysed material from
grouped layers. The third and most recent analyses are
from temporally restricted contexts.
Nompumelelo Maringa1, Sarah Wurz1& Jerome P. Reynard1
1The Department of Geography, Archaeology & Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand.
Research question: Which palaeoenvironmental conditions
occurred during this period?
Materials and methods
The micromammal assemblage originates from the BOS
three layer in the C3 square in Cave 1 (Figure 1c) which was
excavated in 2017. The assemblage consists of 5909
specimens (NSP), the NISP for crania is 1367 and 1456 for
post-crania (Table 1). Taxonomic identification was carried
out on the crania assemblage and palaeoenvironmental and
diversity indices were used to infer the environmental
conditions based on the taxonomic composition.
Discussion
The three dominant taxa in the assemblage are Otomys
irroratus, Crocidura flavescens and Myosorex varius.The
presence of these species indicates a densely vegetated
and moisture rich environment. The diversity indices show
an even distribution of taxa that prefer a variety of
vegetation types. These findings suggest a complex mixture
and distribution of vegetation structures (Figure 2-3).
Conclusion
Cool conditions occurred during MIS 5d, approximately
110ka, at KRM and the outcome of the
palaeoenvironmental inference indicates dense vegetation
with mosaic characteristics, water abundance and a closed
environment. This is the inferred palaeoenvironmental
conditions experienced by the hunter-fisher-gatherers
during their occupation at the site.
Results
References
Grine, F.E., Wurz, S. & Marean, C.W.2017. The Middle Stone Age human fossil record from Klasies River Main Site. Journal of Human Evolution 103:53-78.
Loftus,E. , Lee-Thorp,J. , Leng,M ., Marean, C. & Sealy, J. 2019. Seasonal scheduling of shellfish collectionin the Middle and L ater StoneAges of southern Africa. Journal of human evolution 128:1-16.
Mosweu, K.J. 2019. A study of silcrete raw material acquisition in the Howiesons Poort at Klasies River using GIS catchment analysis techniques. Unpublished Masters dissertation. Johannesburg: University of the
Witwatersrand.
Singer, R. & Wymer, J.J. 1982.Th e Middle Stone Age at Klasies River Mouth in South Africa.Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Van Wijk, Y., Tusenius, M., Rust, R., Cowling, R.M. & Wurz, S. 2017. Modern vegetation at Klasies River archaeological sites, southern Cape coast, South Africa - a reference collection. Plant Ecology and Evolution 150:13–34.
Wurz, S., Bentsen, S., VanPletzen-Vos, L., Reynard, J., Brenner M., Mentzer, S., Pickering, R. & Green, H.E. 2018. Connections, culture and environments 100 000 years ago at Klasies River main site. Quaternary International
495:102-115.
Figure 1: a) A map of the southern Cape (adapted from Mosweu 2019). b) KRM
(after Van Wijk et al.2017:14). c) The cluster of caves (Courtesy of Dr. S.E. Bentsen).
ab
c
N
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Connections, culture and environments around 100 000 years ago at Klasies River main site
Article
Full-text available
In this paper the new excavations at Klasies River main site are introduced and the first results presented and linked with previous work, establishing a baseline for future reporting. Data from the earliest phase of the SAS member, comprising the basal SASU and SASL sub-members from caves 1 and 1A are discussed. A new U-Th date of 126.0 ± 1.5 ka on flowstone associated with fallen tufa material within the base of the SASU sub-member provides a maximum age for this part of the sequence. The lowermost SASU sub-member formed most likely around 100 000 years ago during a period associated with increased precipitation whereas the age of the underlying SASL sub-member is uncertain. The SASU sub-member contains in situ deposits that include hearths, in contrast to the underlying SASL sub-member that was subject to post depositional disturbance. Despite the different site formation processes the lithic industry of both sub-members is similar although quartz utilization is somewhat more prominent in the SASL sub-member. The main reduction strategy involves a parallel uni-directional convergent method to produce quartzite blade and point blanks with rare retouch. Relatively more browsing fauna and riparian species, indicating more closed environments, occur in the SASU layers. The older SASL sub-member, not previously described as an independent unit, contains relatively more grazers suggesting drier and more open habitats. It is vital to link evidence from coastal sites such as Klasies River to data from the interior to promote insight into modern human origins from a wider landscape perspective. The work of James Brink, to whom this paper is dedicated, is invaluable in developing this connection.
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Seasonal scheduling of shellfish collection in the Middle and Later Stone Ages of southern Africa
Article
This study assesses the seasonal scheduling of shellfish harvesting among hunter-gatherer populations along the southernmost coast of South Africa, based on a large number of serial oxygen isotope analyses of marine mollusk shells from four archaeological sites. The south coast of South Africa boasts an exceptional record of coastal hunter-gatherer occupation spanning the Holocene, the last glacial cycle and beyond. The significance of coastal adaptations, in this region in particular, for later modern human evolution has been prominently debated. Shellfishing behaviors are an important focus for investigation given the dietary and scheduling implications and the abundant archaeological shell remains in numerous sites. Key to better understanding coastal foraging is whether it was limited to one particular season, or year-round. Yet, this has proven very difficult to establish by conventional archaeological methods. This study reconstructs seasonal harvesting patterns by calculating water temperatures from the final growth increment of shells. Results from two Later Stone Age sites, Nelson Bay Cave (together with the nearby Hoffman's Robberg Cave) and Byneskranskop 1, show a pronounced cool season signal, which is unexpected given previous ethnographic documentation of summer as the optimal season for shellfishing activities and inferences about hunter-gatherer scheduling and mobility in the late Holocene. Results from two Middle Stone Age sites, Klasies River and Pinnacle Point 5e6, show distinct seasonal patterns that likely reflect the seasonal availability of resources in the two locations. The Pinnacle Point 5 e6 assemblage, which spans the MIS5-4 transition, records a marked shift in shellfishing seasonality at c. 71 ka that aligns with other indications of archaeological and environmental change at this time. We conclude that the scheduling and intensity of shellfishing in this region is affected by a suite of factors, including environmental and cultural drivers, rather than a single variable, such as population growth.
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A study of silcrete raw material acquisition in the Howiesons Poort at Klasies River using GIS catchment analysis techniques
  • Jan 1982
  • K J Mosweu
  • R Singer
  • J J Wymer
Mosweu, K.J. 2019. A study of silcrete raw material acquisition in the Howiesons Poort at Klasies River using GIS catchment analysis techniques. Unpublished Masters dissertation. Johannesburg: University of the Witwatersrand. Singer, R. & Wymer, J.J. 1982. The Middle Stone Age at Klasies River Mouth in South Africa. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Modern vegetation at Klasies River archaeological sites, southern Cape coast, South Africa -a reference collection
  • Jan 2017
  • 13-34
  • Y Van Wijk
  • M Tusenius
  • R Rust
  • R M Cowling
  • S Wurz
Van Wijk, Y., Tusenius, M., Rust, R., Cowling, R.M. & Wurz, S. 2017. Modern vegetation at Klasies River archaeological sites, southern Cape coast, South Africa -a reference collection. Plant Ecology and Evolution 150: 13-34.