Early evidence of Middle Stone Age projectiles found in South Africa's Sibudu Cave

Innovations in stone knapping technology during the South African Middle Stone Age enabled the creation of early projectile weapons, according to a study published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Veerle Rots from University of Liège, Belgium, and colleagues.

Analyzed serrated pieces [Credit: Rots et al., PLOS ONE 2017]

The South African Middle Stone Age (MSA) is considered a period of major technological advancement, with hunter-gatherers introducing new manipulative techniques using heat and pressure to create stone projectile weapons. However, the timing and location of these developments is a topic of much debate.

The authors of the present study examined 25 weapon point fragments excavated from the Sibudu Cave site, analyzing their technological and functional differences and comparing them with reference samples produced for the purpose by an experienced knapper.

This map (left) shows Sibudu Cave in KwaZulu-Natal, a province on the coast of South Africa. 
The photo (right) shows the excavation area [Credit: Rots et al., PLOS ONE 2017]

Some of the points had two faces, a likely result of applying pressure to both sides. Some had serrations, or jagged edges, that were likely produced by a technique known as pressure flaking.

The researchers found that 14 of the 25 point fragments bore evidence of impact-related damage, animal residues, and wear features that strongly indicated that these points may have been were used for hunting.

A cross section showing the layers within Sibudu Cave, including the ages of the different 
stone weapons [Credit: Rots et al., PLOS ONE 2017]

Examination of the impact-related fractures and the distribution of the points indicated that these points may have been attached to handles to form projectile weapons and that these weapons were projected from a distance, most likely with a flexible spear-thrower or a bow.

While further research would help to confirm the timeline and development of stone knapping techniques, the new Sibudu Cave site data may push back the evidence for the use of pressure flaking during the MSA to 77,000 years ago. The authors note that these findings highlight the diversity of technical innovations adopted by southern African MSA humans.

Source: PLOS [April 26, 2017]