Heritage Cases

Expanded Motivation – purpose and rationale of application Extend of site: ±24 x 10 m of which 6 m2 are previously excavated. Previous excavations in 1979 and 1981 by Oliver Davies, Tim Maggs and Aaron Mazel: Two squares were excavated to bedrock at about 90-120 cm depth, and we estimate that the remaining four were dug to about 40 cm depth (KwaZulu-Natal Museum records). Shongweni North Cave in context This permit application is part of a larger archaeological research project entitled ‘Switching to the Midlands: Late Pleistocene behavioral transitions in south-eastern South Africa’. The chronological sequences at Shongweni North and South Caves and Unhlatuzana Rock Shelter comprise Marine Isotope Stage 2 (MIS 2, 29-14 thousand years ago), the coldest part of the last glacial period. The transition from Middle to Later Stone transition is placed in MIS 2 and the impact of global cooling on local temperatures and precipitation regimes is becoming increasingly well-resolved. However, we know little about the occupation of South Africa during this time and well-dated and detailed archaeological excavations that cover this period are very rare (e.g. Mackay et al. 2014). In other words, the human responses to the MIS 2 climate changes are not well understood. Interestingly, archaeological sites from the previous warmer MIS 3 and the final MIS 2 are much more numerous and we have a good understanding of the transition to the current interglacial. By excavating MIS 2 sites we want to expand the site sample size. In addition, there is a hiatus in the fossil record between the morphologically robust Hofmeyr skull dated to 36 thousand years ago, and found without archaeological association, and 11 thousand years ago when morphologically gracile populations similar to modern San are in evidence (e.g. Dusseldorp et al. 2013). The development of the modern southern African anatomical morphology thus occurred during MIS 2. The appearance of the Later Stone Age is not uniform, and in the KwaZulu-Natal region this transition took place during MIS 2. The oldest Later Stone Age at Border Cave is dated to ~40 thousand years ago, yet the younger layers at geographically proximate sites of Sibudu (~37 thousand), Umhlatuzana (~35 thousand) contain final Middle Stone Age assemblages. Moreover, to the East of Shongweni, Strathalan has yielded even more recent final Middle Stone Age dates between (~21 and 28 thousand years ago) (Opperman 1992; Villa et al. 2012; Wadley 2005). This project, with its multiple sites may shed some light on the date and placement of this transition and may help to explain why the transition does not appear (chronologically) uniform. Early Later Stone Age technological systems are not well understood. The earliest Later Stone Age is often characterised as ‘unstandardised’ and very poor in formal tools; its relation to the subsequent standardised Robberg technocomplex is unclear (Lombard et al 2012; Mackay et al. 2014). The Shongweni Caves yielded dates that demonstrate that there was occupation during MIS 2, between ~29 and ~13 thousand years ago (Davies 1975). Their excavation will increase the sample of artefacts, bone and botanical remains of this period, which will allow a better culture-stratigraphic characterisation of the occupations of the site. The location in the Midlands, close to other excavated sites with relevant deposits such as Umhlatuzana, Sibudu to the East and Sehonghong and Melikane in the mountains to the West will allow us to contextualise the finds in a regional framework. By combining environmental information, remains of subsistence activities with use-trace analysis of the stone artefact assemblages, new light will be shed on the technological organisation of groups inhabiting the area during MIS 2. In all, this extended excavation of this site has the potential to illuminate the genesis of modern southern African populations and their culture. Why re-excavate Shongweni North Cave? In 1981 Oliver Davies, with the help of Tim Maggs and Aaron Mazel, excavated 6 m2 at Shongweni North Cave. The Iron Age top layers contained ample organic remains, similar to the South Cave. The deeper Stone Age layers contained less organic material. The North Cave was excavated to illuminate the stratigraphy of the South Cave. Two squares were excavated to bedrock at about 90-120 cm depth. It is unclear how deep the other squares were dug, but estimating from the profile drawings (KwaZulu-Natal Museum records), they were dug to about 40 cm. The site was dug, following the natural stratigraphy, and where the natural layers were thick they were sub-sampled in 10 cm spits. The lithic assemblages from the North Cave is very limited with 205 pieces of which 85% are chips <20 mm. About 87% of the stone artefacts come from the deeper Stone Age layers that possibly date to the Late Pleistocene. In order to gain a better understanding of the MIS 2 occupation of the Mlazi Valley, we want to increase the lithic and the fauna samples. In addition, charcoal samples specifically collected for charcoal analysis will contribute to an environmental reconstruction. Also, the chronology of the site could be improved using ultra-filtration AMS dating and perhaps OSL dating; the chronology might also be improved by excavating in smaller spits. Finally, the previous excavation of the North Cave was never reported, and it is our intention to synthesise all materials from all excavations in our reports/publications. Excavation and sampling We aim to initiate a long-term research project focussing on the excavation of the Shongweni and Umhlatuzana sites. In order to successfully apply for funding an excavation permit is required. The first step of this project would be to secure funding. The second step is to re-date the sites using AMS and OSL techniques; we would sample from the profiles from previous excavations. Depending on these results new square metres will be excavated in both Shongweni Caves caves. For the North Cave we will excavate up to 10 m2 and the squares will most likely extend the previous excavation in a North-South direction, following the drip-line and probing the deepest deposits. In addition, we may excavated the four previously excavated squares to bedrock. Our aim is to apply the high-standard analytical methods to pottery studies, palaeo-botany, lithic analysis, spatial analysis (EDM), charcoal analysis, micro-wear and residue analysis, and fauna analysis. We then will synthesise the results from these disparate analyses to obtain a complete picture of the sites’ occupation history and to answer the wider research questions outlined above. The sites will be excavated by the applicants and with the help of a (local) CRM company, following the requirements as outlined by ASAPA. In addition, Dr Carolyn Thorp (KwaZulu-Natal Museum), Prof Lyn Wadley (University of the Witwatersrand) and Prof Marlize Lombard (University of Johannesburg) have agreed to act as advisors and Dr Thorp will also assist with the excavation and sampling in the field. Davies, O., 1975. Excavations at Shongweni South Cave: the oldest evidence to date for cultigens in southern Africa. Southern African Humanities 22, 627-662. Dusseldorp, G.L., Lombard, M., Wurz, S. (2013). Pleistocene Homo and the updated Stone Age sequence of South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 109, Art #0042. Lombard, M., Wadley, L., Deacon, J., Wurz, S., Parsons, I., Mohapi, M., Swart, J., Mitchell, P. (2012). South African and Lesotho Stone Age sequence updated. South African Archaeological Bulletin, 67(195), 123-144. Mackay, A., 2009. History and selection in the Late Pleistocene Archaeology of the Western Cape, South Africa. PhD Thesis, The Australian National University, Canberra. Mackay, A., Stewart, B.A., Chase, B.M. (2014). Coalescence and fragmentation in the late Pleistocene archaeology of southernmost Africa. Journal Of Human Evolution, 72, 26-51. Opperman, H. (1992). A report on the results of a test pit in Strathalan Cave B, Maclear distric, north-eastern Cape. Southern African Field Archaeology, 1(2), 98-102. Villa, P., Soriano, S., Tsanova, T., Degano, I., Higham, T.F.G., d’Errico, F., Backwell, L., Lucejko, J.J., Colombini, M.P., Beaumont, P.B., 2012. Border Cave and the beginning of the Later Stone Age in South Africa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 109, 13208-13213. Wadley, L. (2005). A typological study of the final Middle Stone Age stone tools from Sibudu Cave, KwaZulu-Natal. South African Archaeological Bulletin, 60(182), 51-63.