Sites

In addition to earlier Stone Age finds in the area, a localised scatter of Middle Stone Age (MSA) material was documented on Plattekop where fine grained material was probably source for stone tool manufacture. Formal tools such as broken blades and scrapers as well as a number of cores, produced on fine grained raw materials were noted here. Preliminary examinations of some of the lithics which occurs in medium densities in places indicated that flakes displayed facetted platforms, characteristic of the MSA. Prepared cores show evidence of the use of the Levallois technique, where surfaces on the core are shaped in order to generate a specific formal tool when flaked from the core. Use wear and marks and secondary retouch are clearly visible on formal tools and a number of tools show signs of secondary retouch and in some instances cores display peripheral preparation. Artefacts are generally made from locally available fine-grained materials such as ironstone. The location of the scatter suggests an affinity for areas where local sources of raw materials in lithic manufacture were available in prehistorical times. This Stone Age representation is of interest due to the medium density of the scatters and the presence of diagnostic tools but the landscape around the site has been altered and transformed which might have compromised site context. The site is of medium scientific value and potential and a specialist analysis of lithics from the site might provide a further understanding of the MSA occurrences at Plattekop. The site occurs within the Plattekop resource mining area and impact on the site is expected.