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. 2017 Oct 5;12(10):e0185845.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185845. eCollection 2017.

Technological variability at Sibudu Cave: The end of Howiesons Poort and reduced mobility strategies after 62,000 years ago

Paloma de la Peña  1   2 , Lyn Wadley  1
Affiliations

Technological variability at Sibudu Cave: The end of Howiesons Poort and reduced mobility strategies after 62,000 years ago

Paloma de la Peña et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

We evaluate the cultural variation between the youngest Howiesons Poort layer (GR) and the oldest post-Howiesons Poort layers (RB-YA) of Sibudu Cave (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa). We first conducted a technological analysis, secondly we performed a cladistic study with all the technological traits and, finally, we compare the technological variability with other data from Sibudu (ochre, micromorphology, fauna and plant remains). The synapomorphies of the cladistical analysis show numerous lithic technological changes between the youngest Howiesons Poort and the oldest post-Howiesons Poort layers as previously concluded. However, some technological strategies that are present, yet uncommon, in the Howiesons Poort become abundant in the overlying layers, whereas others that were fundamental to the Howiesons Poort continue, but are poorly represented in the overlying layers. We further show that lithic technological strategies appear and disappear as pulses in the post-Howiesons Poort layers studied. Among the most notable changes in the post-Howiesons Poort layers is the importance of flake production from discoidal knapping methods, the unstandardized retouched pieces and their infrequent representation, and the higher than usual frequency of grindstones. We evaluate various hypotheses to explain the transformation of a Howiesons Poort formal industry to a more 'expedient' assemblage. Since no marked environmental changes are contemporary with the technological transformation, a change in residential mobility patterns seems a plausible explanation. This hypothesis is supported by the changes observed in stratigraphy, lithic technology, site management, ochre and firewood collection.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Location of Sibudu.
On top left, location of Sibudu (29.522627S, 31.085895E). On the bottom left, Plan of Sibudu. This schematic map was made on the basis of a topographic map of Southern Africa, source: Maps at the CIA (public domain): https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html. On the right, stratigraphy of the east face with the layers studied in this paper highlighted in red.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Cladistic trees.
On the left, the cladograms with only the layers shown. On the right, the cladograms are represented with the nodes and number of synapomorphies.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Percentage of rock types for completed flakes >2cm from GR to YA layers.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Reddish Brown (RB) technological characteristics.
On the left, blade prismatic blanks in dolerite. On the right, core-related by products also in dolerite. Scale 3 cm.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Different types of cores from RB to YA layers.
A. Burin-like core in RB. B (dolerite), D (dolerite) and E (quartzite) discoidal cores in YA2, BYA2 and Mottled Grey respectively. C and G. Tested quartzite and quartz cores from BYA and BYA2i respectively. F. Prismatic bladelet quartz core from YA2i. G. Multifacial quartz core from BYA. All scales 1 cm.
Fig 6
Fig 6. BYA2i non-retouched blanks.
On the left, dolerite appointed blades (A and B) and prismatic blades (C-G). Scale 3cm. On the right, discoidal flakes in quartz (H-M), quartzite (N-P) and an elongated flake in sandstone (Q). All scales 1 cm.
Fig 7
Fig 7. Bipolar cores from GR, RB, BYA2i, YA2i, BYA2, YA2, Mottled Grey and YA.
All scales 1 cm.
Fig 8
Fig 8. Some of the quartz retouched pieces from RB to YA.
A–I. These pieces have been interpreted as bifacial fragments (see also Table 4). J. Quartz notch. All scales 1 cm.
Fig 9
Fig 9. Retouched pieces from RB to YA.
A. Retouched hornfels blade from RB. B. Dolerite segment from RB. C. Retouched hornfels blade from BYA. D. Dolerite segment from BYA2i. E. Quartzite notch from YA2i. F. Dolerite segment from Mottled Grey. G. Quartzite notch blade from BYA2. H. Truncated hornfels blade from YA2. I. Retouched hornfels flake from YA.
Fig 10
Fig 10. Sibudu grindstones from layers BYA2i to YA.
A. Broken round grindstone with enlargement of grinding striations. Square B5a, layer YA. B. Small lozenge-shaped grindstone. Square C5b, Layer YA. C. Straight sandstone slab with ground edge on long axis. The enlargement shows a yellow mineral stain on the ground edge. Square C6c, layer YA2. D. Flat grinding surfaces. The uppermost one shown is concave with a dark brown residue and some black, reflective residue. Square B5c, layer BYA. E. Faceted grindstone with residue that may be crushed bone. Square B5d, layer BYA2. F. Straight sandstone slab with ground edge on long axis. Square C4a, layer BYA. All scales are 10 mm. The residue images are all 45x magnification. All scales 1 cm.
Fig 11
Fig 11. Different blank types in YA2.
A, C, E. Quartzite flakes. All scales 1 cm. B, D and F. Quartz flakes. G, H, I, J. Dolerite blades. Scale 3 cm.
Fig 12
Fig 12. Percentage of completed flakes and blades per layer from GR to YA.
Fig 13
Fig 13. Scar pattern for dolerite in GR, RB, YA2, YA and BYA2i.
Fig 14
Fig 14. Comparison of the length of bipolar cores in quartzite (RB-YA), bipolar quartzite blanks (RB-YA), and quartz bipolar cores in PGS, GS and GR.
Fig 15
Fig 15. Length, breadth and thickness for all the complete dolerite blades in GR, BYA2i and YA2.
Fig 16
Fig 16. Box-plot of length, breadth and thickness for dolerite (GR,RB, BYA2i, YA2, YA) and sandstone (GR, YA2, BYA2i) flakes.
Fig 17
Fig 17. Percentages of cores in GR and RB-YA.
Top: without bipolar cores. Bottom: with bipolar cores (data from Table 5).
Fig 18
Fig 18. Percentage of core related by-products for GR and RB-YA layers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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