In the transition between the Middle Stone Age (MSA) and the Late Stone Age (LSA) in eastern Africa, the archaeological record shows a gradual and asynchronous decline in MSA features and an increase in LSA characteristics. A link between this pattern and climatic variations has not yet been tested in the region using lithic attribute analysis. To investigate that, we integrated technological data of blades and bladelets from eastern African contexts (Marine Isotope Stages 5–1) with large-scale paleoclimatic reconstructions. A principal component analysis (PCA) finds the first component (reflecting artifacts’ dimensions) significantly correlating with time. This highlights a progressive reduction in size over time, a trend that has already been suggested for the MSA-LSA transition. The second principal component reflects artifact shape and shows a significant correlation with seasonality. Based on this, we propose that more variable blades reflect greater versatility in foraging strategies as adaptation to unpredictable environments. On the other hand, during periods of mild seasonal change, a more standardized toolkit with thinner, longer elements would emerge from refining and adapting to familiar situations and challenges.

The environmental context of the Middle-to-Late Stone Age Transition in eastern Africa: seasonality as a key factor / Fusco, Marianna; Habte, Behailu; Leplongeon, Alice; Ménard, Clément; Manica, Andrea; Spinapolice, Enza Elena; Leonardi, Michela. - (2024). [10.1101/2024.12.09.627606]

The environmental context of the Middle-to-Late Stone Age Transition in eastern Africa: seasonality as a key factor

Fusco, Marianna
;
Spinapolice, Enza Elena;
2024

Abstract

In the transition between the Middle Stone Age (MSA) and the Late Stone Age (LSA) in eastern Africa, the archaeological record shows a gradual and asynchronous decline in MSA features and an increase in LSA characteristics. A link between this pattern and climatic variations has not yet been tested in the region using lithic attribute analysis. To investigate that, we integrated technological data of blades and bladelets from eastern African contexts (Marine Isotope Stages 5–1) with large-scale paleoclimatic reconstructions. A principal component analysis (PCA) finds the first component (reflecting artifacts’ dimensions) significantly correlating with time. This highlights a progressive reduction in size over time, a trend that has already been suggested for the MSA-LSA transition. The second principal component reflects artifact shape and shows a significant correlation with seasonality. Based on this, we propose that more variable blades reflect greater versatility in foraging strategies as adaptation to unpredictable environments. On the other hand, during periods of mild seasonal change, a more standardized toolkit with thinner, longer elements would emerge from refining and adapting to familiar situations and challenges.
2024
Tecnologia litica; Cultura; Evoluzione Umana; Middle Stone Age;
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
The environmental context of the Middle-to-Late Stone Age Transition in eastern Africa: seasonality as a key factor / Fusco, Marianna; Habte, Behailu; Leplongeon, Alice; Ménard, Clément; Manica, Andrea; Spinapolice, Enza Elena; Leonardi, Michela. - (2024). [10.1101/2024.12.09.627606]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1731313
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