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Proposal for the study of the ochre assemblage at Klipdrift Rock Shelter (KDS)

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ProposalDescription: 

The goal of this project is to chemically and mineralogically analyze selected ochre and mineral pigment pieces from the Klipdrift Shelter site (KDS) located in the De Hoop Nature Reserve, southern Cape, South Africa. A recent re-investigation of the ochre and mineral pigment assemblage revealed some 597 individual pieces, some with anthropogenic modifications. Previous geological survey work on the southern cape of South Africa, both by the author and by other researchers (1-3) revealed several numerous potential ochre outcrops that were likely accessed by ancient populations living along the coast of the Western Cape. The goal of this study is to augment this research by conducting a provenance-based analysis of several select ochre and pigment pieces from the KDS assemblage using state-of-the-art techniques to potentially compare the archaeological materials to their geological place of origin. The output of this research will allow for new interpretations regarding pigment collection strategies, responses to environmental and climatic changes, long-distance trade and regional movement, functional uses, social signalling and group cohesion, cognitive evolution, and symbolic mediation. Overall, this project will contribute to an ever-growing body of research on the role of the southern Cape in the emergence and evolution of modern human behaviours.

Expanded_Motivation: 

Introduction The emergence of symbolism is a crucial aspect of investigating when, why and how ancient hominins adopted modern behaviour. Within this discussion, the use of mineral pigments is arguably one of the oldest mediums for abstract or symbolic communication (4-6). Iron-rich rocks referred to as ochre are the first pigments known to be used by prehistoric humans. Ochre has been used since at least 300 kya in South-Central Africa (7) as well as by European Neanderthals (8, 9), and appears on lithics (10-12), bones (5), stones (13), shells (5, 14, 15), beads (16-19),and cave and rock walls (20-22). The use of ochre likely emerged during or before the African MSA (6, 23-25) and spread throughout Europe (26-30), the Levant (31), Asia (20, 32, 33) and Australia (34, 35). As such, ochre use may represent the earliest evidence for symbolic behaviours in ancient hominin populations, and exploring the emergence and spread of such behaviours is likely to provide valuable insight into the beginnings of regional trade, long-distance travel, social structures, complex cognition and personal expression (4, 36-39) However, despite the evolutionary significance of ochre and pigments, considerably less emphasis has been placed on understanding ochre in the full context of idiosyncratic prehistoric lifeways, possible chaîne opératoire sequences of acquisition and use, and the impact of landscape and climatic fluctuations on ochre use and sourcing. In order to address these research questions, my goal is to chemically and mineralogically analyze several ochre and pigment pieces form the site of Klipdrift Shelter (KDS), in order to understand how and where MSA populations were gathering ochre and pigment resources, and ultimately, the relationship between early MSA populations, ochre use, cultural complexity and the subsequent spread of these behaviours out of southern Africa. Project Objectives In order to achieve my research goal of understanding the relationship between early ochre and pigment collection strategies during the MSA and LSA of KDS, I aim to: 1. Chemically characterize 15 ochre and pigment pieces using Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA); 2. Mineralogically characterize the same pieces using Laser Ablation with an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LA ICP MS); 3. Conduct a provenance assessment of KDS ochres with larger discussion of impacts of climate and environment on ochre behaviours and collection strategies by comparing the archaeological data to previously collected ochre source data

ApplicationDate: 

Wednesday, December 28, 2022 - 16:32

CaseID: 

20414

OtherReferences: 

ReferenceList: 

CitationReferenceTypeDate Retrieved
McGrath JR. Human signaling ecology: a case study of late Pleistocene mineral pigment assemblages from southernmost Africa: University of Iowa; 2020.
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
McGrath JR, MacDonald BL, Stalla D. Middle Stone Age mineral pigment procurement at Pinnacle Point 5–6 North, Western Cape province, South Africa. Archaeometry. 2022;64(1):193-217.
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Roebroeks W, Sier MJ, Nielsen TK, De Loecker D, Parés JM, Arps CES, et al. Use of red ochre by early Neandertals. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2012;109(6):1889-94.
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Henshilwood CS, d'Errico F, van Niekerk KL, Coquinot Y, Jacobs Z, Lauritzen S-E, et al. A 100,000-Year-Old Ochre-Processing Workshop at Blombos Cave, South Africa. Science. 2011;334(6053):219-22.
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Lombard M. Direct evidence for the use of ochre in the hafting technology of Middle Stone Age tools from Sibudu Cave. Southern African Humanities. 2006;18(1):57-67.
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
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