From quartz curvature to late Holocene mobility at Spring Cave, Western Cape, South Africa

The late Holocene was a period of cultural change along the west coast of South Africa, with widespread archaeological evidence for shifts in settlement patterns and economic activity. With these changes, we expect variability in the movement patterns of resident populations. In this proof-of-concept paper, we use lithic assemblages from Spring Cave near Verlorenvlei to evaluate changes in mobility during the late Holocene. These assemblages are dominated by bipolar-reduced quartz, which is notoriously difficult to assess using geometric approaches given high levels of fragmentation and variability in product dimensions. We use measures of curvature on cortical pieces to estimate original nodule size, and then use this to calculate the cortex ratio, a measure of mobility. Ratios indicate differences in mobility and place use through time that mirror earlier observations about shifts in land use. These observations warrant more extended analysis of other late Holocene contexts throughout the west coast.

Automated summary

In this study, lithic assemblages from Spring Cave on the west coast of South Africa were used to evaluate changes in mobility during the late Holocene. Measures of curvature on cortical pieces were used to estimate original nodule size and calculate the cortex ratio. Results indicated changes in mobility and place use over time, consistent with previous observations on shifts in land use.