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Raw material procurement analysis of Mwulu's Cave tools

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ProposalDescription: 

We would like to perform a raw material procurement analysis of Mwulu's Cave (Limpopo, South Africa) stone tools. In order to accomplish this objective, we will analyze 53 stone tools (unretouched flakes and chunks) by means of macroscopical description, portable X-ray Fluorescent Spectrometry, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and thin sections. This project is for the master's thesis project of Mrs. Dineo Masia, entitled: Raw Material Procurement Analysis at Olieboomspoort Rock Shelter and Mwulu’s Cave in South Africa (University of Witwatersrand). Co-supervised by: Dr. Paloma de la Peña, Dr. Zubair Jonnah and Dr. Guilhem Mauran.

Expanded_Motivation: 

Rationale The Pre-Still Bay Industry and Site Backgrounds The Pre-Still Bay industry dates around 77 000 years ago. This industry precedes the popular Still Bay industry (±75kya) and is thought to be represented by Levallois manufacturing techniques and retouched Middle Stone Age points (McCall, 2007). This project aims to focus on the material associated with this industry at a Middle Stone Age (MSA) site in South Africa. This is Mwulu’s Cave, located in Limpopo. The project will be conducted through a series of petrographic and geochemical methods, as well as geological map consultation, and the results yielded from these analyses will be related to the regional geology of the site (comparative analysis using outcrop samples). From there inferences on Prehistoric Homo sapiens can be made. The location of the site is shown in figure 1 below. Using rock as a raw material for stone tool production has occurred for over 2 million years. Analysing stone tools gives us information about human activities outside of what fossilised body remains can tell us (Braun et al., 2009). Analysing the lithics found at the site may offer insight on whether the Homo sapiens were capable of complex behaviour and organisation. This includes the ability to specifically source certain types of rocks because of their advantageous characteristics for knapping and the durability of the tool. It may also raise the possibility that Homo sapiens in MSA planned mobility routes for the sourcing of rock material. This project focuses on raw material procurement analysis. This type of analysis investigates the sourcing of the rock material that is required for knapping stone tools. It is conducted through a series of petrographic and geochemical methods, as well as geological map consultation. The results yielded from these analyses are then related to the regional geology of the site and from there inferences can be made. These analyses aim to specify a geological source for the investigated lithic material. Raw material procurement analysis has proven to be an excellent tool in the economic and social reconstruction of the past (Aubrey et al., 2004). The aims of the project are to understand the processes associated with the procurement (or sourcing) of the materials acquired for the knapping of tools and the objectives of the project are to identify the rocks used to make stone tools at the site through petrographic and geochemical analyses and to link that information to the regional geology of the area. The relation of the lithics to regional geology will allow the suggestion of potential outcrops exploited in Prehistory. These analyses are the first steps on the path to understanding the raw material procurement and planning done by the Homo sapiens that occupied the specified site (Kempson and Wadley, 2011). Methodology Materials: The samples that will be analysed are a selection of lithics from the Pre-Still Bay layers of the site’s stratigraphy -after asking for a permit for analysis from the cultural heritage body- and the outcrops in the surrounding area of the sites. In order to proceed with the investigation, both macroscopic and microscopic analyses will be conducted on the obtained lithics from the site. After this, the results obtained will be compared to samples collected from outcrops in the surrounding area of the site (there will be a field campaign for the collection of these outcrop samples). Macroscopic Analysis The macroscopic analysis entails the use of a binocular microscope and hand lens. Macroscopic properties such as textures, colour, and crystal size will be analysed in order to characterise the samples into rock types. To determine the petrographic and textural properties, as well as geochemistry of the rocks, thin section analysis and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and/or X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) will be used. Thin Section Analysis Thin section analysis provides an unbiased estimate of mineral proportion and composition due to the random choosing of the section that is cut and is said to provide the most accurate petrographic information in primary analysis (Andrefsky, 1998). This is essential because modal abundance estimates are of central importance in petrography (Chaves, 1949). It allows one to investigate the mineralogy of a sample under great magnification through both plane polarised light as well as cross polarised light depending on the orientation of the crystals. This light travels through the thin section and is shown through the eyepiece of the microscope. This technique will aid in the classification of lithics and outcrop samples. Thin section analysis will be conducted on the more coarse-grained lithics. In order for this to be successful, the specimens will be taken to the school of Geosciences, where the lithics will be cut, crushed and polished by the technicians to produce appropriate thin sections. The surviving lithics may be utilized in XRF and ICPMS analyses, to produce elemental and chemical results. A similar process will take place for the classification of outcrop samples once they have been collected from the sites. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS) is a highly sensitive hetero- element detection method and process used to identify metals even at very low concentrations. The reliability of this analysis lies in its ability to tolerate salts, to detect elements at low detection limits, and to detect multielement isotopes at high spectral resolutions (10000). This advanced method will contribute to this project in a way that XRF may not be able to in that its sensitivity will allow the detection of REEs and trace elements (highly variable) in material with little major element variability such as in quartzites. This will aid in coupling the lithics to specific outcrop samples based on minute elemental differences and similarities. The ICPMS analysis occurs at intense temperatures (of approximately 5500˚C) that material cannot withstand which makes it the most versatile element ioniser and atomiser available (Ammann, 2007). In order for detection to occur an ICP source changes the atoms of a said element into ions through several steps. These steps include the conversion of the sample studied into an aerosol of which only fine droplets of the converted sample are carried through the central channel of a high temperature Argon plasma (all bonds are broken in a plasma and this allows for analysis of the total content of the sample) (Amman, 2007). This is followed by the drying, analysing and ionising of the droplets, creating positively charged, high energy ions which ultimately pass through a mass analyser for detection (www.agilent.com). X-ray Fluorescent Spectrometry The use of XRF spectrometry is a type of geochemical analysis that measures the amount of radiation (fluorescent x-rays) that is absorbed and emitted by the minerals in a sample. XRF major element analysis is meant to aid in the rock identification of the sample (especially fine-grained samples like those of basalt). This allows it to provide information on the elemental nature of the sample as well as the proportions thereof. The types of XRF analyses that will be considered in this project are major element analysis as well as trace element analysis. The former looks at the general composition of the rock and aids in basic identification whereas the latter looks at the minute trace elements found in the rock which will help identify the specific source of the lithic tool.

ApplicationDate: 

Monday, July 19, 2021 - 18:29

CaseID: 

16817

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