2011Open University of Cape Town (University of Cape Town)Requires access

The sword in the stone : lithic raw material in the Middle Stone Age at Pinnacle Point Site 5-6, southern Cape, South Africa

Kyle S. Brown

Open publisher page 10 citations

Abstract

This thesis presents a description and analysis of the lithic artefacts from the recently excavated site of Pinnacle Point 5-6, Mossel Bay, from a sequence dating between ~50-85ka. PP5-6 has been excavated to the highest contemporary standards, enabling a more detailed analysis of the lithics than is possible for Klasies. Although the PP5-6 lithic sequence conforms with the overall trends of MSA artifact manufacture, a number of differences from other sites are identified here for the first time - a significant step towards understanding behavioral variability and complexity among early modern humans.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

This thesis presents a description and analysis of the lithic artefacts from the recently excavated site of Pinnacle Point 5-6, Mossel Bay, from a sequence dating between ~50-85ka. PP5-6 has been excavated to the highest contemporary standards, enabling a more detailed analysis of the lithics than is possible for Klasies. Although the PP5-6 lithic sequence conforms with the overall trends of MSA artifact manufacture, a number of differences from other sites are identified here for the first time - a significant step towards understanding behavioral variability and complexity among early modern humans.

Why it matters

OpenAlex reports 10 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

This thesis presents a description and analysis of the lithic artefacts from the recently excavated site of Pinnacle Point 5-6, Mossel Bay, from a sequence dating between ~50-85ka. PP5-6 has been excavated to the highest contemporary standards, enabling a more detailed analysis of the lithics than is possible for Klasies. Although the PP5-6 lithic sequence conforms with the overall trends of MSA artifact manufacture, a number of differences from other sites are identified here for the first time - a significant step towards understanding behavioral variability and complexity among early modern humans.

Key concepts: Pinnacle, Middle Stone Age, Cape, SWORD, Archaeology, Later Stone Age, Stone tool, Geography

Related papers

Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
The sword in the stone : lithic raw material in the Middle Stone Age at Pinnacle Point Site 5-6, southern Cape, South Africa — Research Paper | ScholarLens