The Still Bay and Howiesons Poort at Sibudu and Blombos: Understanding Middle Stone Age Technologies

摘要: The classification of archaeological assemblages in the Middle Stone Age South Africa terms diversity and temporal continuity has significant implications with respect to recent cultural evolutionary models which propose either gradual accumulation or discontinuous, episodic processes for emergence diffusion traits. We present results a systematic technological typological analysis Still Bay from Sibudu Blombos. A similar approach is used Howiesons Poort (HP) seen comparison broadly contemporaneous Rose Cottage Klasies River Cave 1A. Using our own published data other sites we report on between stone artifact discuss what extent they can be grouped into homogeneous lithic sets. evolution debitage techniques within sequence progressive abandonment HP style argues against saltational model its disappearance while differences Blombos artifacts considerably weaken an interpretation similarities their grouping same unit. Limited sampling fragmented record may explain why simple do not seem apply complex reality.