A Middle Stone Age Assemblage with Discoid Lithic Technology from Etemba 14, Erongo Mountains, North...

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" A Middle Stone Age Assemblage with Discoid Lithic Technology from Etemba 14, Erongo Mountains, Northern Namibia "
Isabell Schmidt

Document Type	:	AL
Record Number	:	1070144
Doc. No	:	LA113773
Call No	:	‭10.3213/1612-1651-10183‬
Language of Document	:	English
Main Entry	:	Isabell Schmidt
Title & Author	:	A Middle Stone Age Assemblage with Discoid Lithic Technology from Etemba 14, Erongo Mountains, Northern Namibia [Article]\ Isabell Schmidt
Publication Statement	:	Leiden: Brill
Title of Periodical	:	Journal of African Archaeology
Date	:	2011
Volume/ Issue Number	:	9/1
Page No	:	85–100
Abstract	:	Etemba 14 was excavated in two seasons (1968 and 1984) and yielded a stratigraphic sequence with Later Stone Age (LSA) and Middle Stone Age (MSA) material. Stone Age (LSA) and Middle Stone Age (MSA) material. Human remains discovered among material of the first excavation had been assigned to the MSA complex. The diachronic analysis of material from the second excavation showed that 1) the transition correlates with the sedimentological change from Unit IV to V, contrary to previous interpretations; 2) the interface most probably reflects a considerable time span; 3) the human cranial fragments belong to the LSA complex; 4) an undisturbed MSA layer was identified at the base of the second excavation. A technological analysis of the MSA assemblage showed that discoidal reduction was the prevailing concept, independent of the raw material used. Cores made out of quartz show additionally a simple, unipolar reduction. Pointed flakes (pseudo-Levallois points) are frequent; blades are irregular and very scarce. The reconstruction of the chaîne opératoire allows some suggestions about the activities that took place on site. Early MSA assemblages from the south-western part of Namibia show similar technological features. Whether the discoid technology used at Etemba 14 is a chronological marker or a local expression of functional or economic needs requires further research. Etemba 14 was excavated in two seasons (1968 and 1984) and yielded a stratigraphic sequence with Later Stone Age (LSA) and Middle Stone Age (MSA) material. Stone Age (LSA) and Middle Stone Age (MSA) material. Human remains discovered among material of the first excavation had been assigned to the MSA complex. The diachronic analysis of material from the second excavation showed that 1) the transition correlates with the sedimentological change from Unit IV to V, contrary to previous interpretations; 2) the interface most probably reflects a considerable time span; 3) the human cranial fragments belong to the LSA complex; 4) an undisturbed MSA layer was identified at the base of the second excavation. A technological analysis of the MSA assemblage showed that discoidal reduction was the prevailing concept, independent of the raw material used. Cores made out of quartz show additionally a simple, unipolar reduction. Pointed flakes (pseudo-Levallois points) are frequent; blades are irregular and very scarce. The reconstruction of the chaîne opératoire allows some suggestions about the activities that took place on site. Early MSA assemblages from the south-western part of Namibia show similar technological features. Whether the discoid technology used at Etemba 14 is a chronological marker or a local expression of functional or economic needs requires further research.
Descriptor	:	chaîne opératoire
Descriptor	:	discoid concept
Descriptor	:	lithic analysis
Descriptor	:	Middle Stone Age
Descriptor	:	Namibia
Location & Call number	:	‭10.3213/1612-1651-10183‬