The nature of 'stone-lines' in the African Quaternary record: archaeological resolution at the rainforest site of Mosumu, Equatorial Guinea

'Stone-lines' are widespread Quaternary features that appear in tropical and subtropical regions. They have a diverse nature and genesis, and are frequently associated with archaeological assemblages. However, archaeological deposition and 'stone-line' configuration may be unrelated geological events separated by thousands of years. The energetics involved in 'stone-line' formation, coarse and fine material translocation across space and in depth, and overall assemblage integrity vary from one site to another. This paper presents quantitative and spatial geoarchaeological data from the site of Mosumu, in the tropical rain forest of continental Equatorial Guinea. Mosumu yielded Middle and Later Stone Age assemblages dated to at least the last 30,000 years in a 'stone-line' context. Special attention to the study of vertical and horizontal variations of artifacts, sedimentary features, and taphonomic indicators allows analysis of the nature, meaning, and archeological resolution at this site. The results are placed in the wider debate over the meaning of 'stone-lines' in the African Quaternary record. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.