Refining Our Understanding of Howiesons Poort Lithic Technology: The Evidence from Grey Rocky Layer in Sibudu Cave (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)

A detailed technological analysis of the Grey Rocky Layer in Sibudu Cave, South Africa, reveals significant advancements in Howiesons Poort lithic technology during the late Pleistocene. The study highlights the importance of blade production using diverse knapping methods, alongside flaking techniques tailored to coarse-grained rock types. Additionally, it identifies new strategies for bifacial production and microlithism, demonstrating a versatile reduction strategy influenced by rock characteristics. This technological variability suggests potential diachronic, functional, or organizational differences among Howiesons Poort sites, while also showing clear links with other Middle Stone Age assemblages. The findings underscore the unique character of the Howiesons Poort technocomplex and its connections to pre-Still Bay and post-Howiosons Poort industries.

de la Peña, P. (2015). Refining Our Understanding of Howiesons Poort Lithic Technology: The Evidence from Grey Rocky Layer in Sibudu Cave (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa). Plos One, 10(12), e0143451. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0143451