Sample name: Blombos Cave (LSA)

Reference: C. S. Henshilwood, J. C. Sealy, R. Yates, K. Cruz-Uribe, P. Goldberg, F. E. Grine, R. G. Klein, C. Poggenpoel, K. van Niekerk, and I. Watts. 2001. Blombos Cave, Southern Cape, South Africa: Preliminary report on the 1992-1999 excavations of the Middle Stone Age levels. Journal of Archaeological Science 28(4):421-448 [ER 3719]

Lithology: sandstone

Taphonomic context: cave,human accumulation

Archaeology: bone tools,ceramics,stone tools

Habitat comments: "The cave was formed as a result of solution action and wave cutting of a cliff formed of calcified sediments that lies above a basal layer of Table Mountain Sandstone".
The site consists of three major Middle Stone Age layers (Phases M1-M3) beneath a thick, sterile aeolian sand dune layer that separates the Middle Stone Age (MSA) sequence from the recent Late Stone Age (LSA) layers.
Various stone stools are present including flakes, cores, scrapers, and other retouched pieces, as well as bone tools and pottery sherds. "The abundance of artefacts strongly implicates humans as the principle bone accumulators".

Life forms: carnivores,rodents,ungulates,marine mammals,other large mammals,other small mammals

Sampling methods: quarry,screenwash

Sample size: 1803 specimens

Years: 1991 -

Sampling comments: "The first excavation at Blombos Cave was initiated in 1991 and led to the recovery of only the LSA deposits dated at less than 2 ka old. A second excavation was begun in 1992, with excavations of both the LSA and MSA levels continuing in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000" and beyond...
"Excavation by brush or trowel followed individual strata or layers. Recovered deposits were wet sieved through both 1·5 and 3·0 mm meshes using seawater. Recovered material was later re-washed in freshwater and shade dried".
The register below consists of the identified macromammal remains only (those with a mean adult body weight of at least 0.75 kg). Other smaller organisms other than shellfish and turtles are likely also present in the LSA deposits, but this is not specified.

Sample number: 3946

Contributor: Benjamin Carter

Enterer: Benjamin Carter

Created: 2022-04-05 13:59:21

Modified: 2023-05-30 00:53:30