Environmental dynamics during the onset of the Middle Stone Age in eastern Africa

Potts, Richard; Behrensmeyer, Anna K.; Faith, J. Tyler; Tryon, Christian A.; Brooks, Alison S.; Yellen, John E.; Deino, Alan L.; Kinyanjui, Rahab; Clark, Jeffery J.; Haradon, Catherine Marie; Levin, Naomi E.; Meijer, Hanneke J. M.; Veatch, E. Grace; Owen, R. Bernhart; Renaut, Robin W.

doi:10.1126/science.aao2200

Cited by 172 publications

(133 citation statements)

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“…1; composite stratigraphy is shown in fig. S8), that document the stone technology, fauna, and environments of the Acheulean-to-MSA sequence (1,2).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In this work, we set out the chronostratigraphic controls for the end of the Acheulean and its replacement by MSA sites in the Olorgesailie basin, which contains the longest stratigraphic sequence of Acheulean and overlying MSA sites in eastern Africa. Other recent and concurrent manuscripts establish the stratigraphic and regional geological context of strata younger than 500 ka at Olorgesailie (13), characterize the MSA sites (1), and examine the paleoenvironmental setting, faunal turnover, and landscape dynamics associated with the MSA in the Olorgesailie basin (2).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chronology of the Acheulean to Middle Stone Age transition in eastern Africa

Deino

Behrensmeyer

Brooks

et al. 2018

Science

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The origin of the Middle Stone Age (MSA) marks the transition from a highly persistent mode of stone toolmaking, the Acheulean, to a period of increasing technological innovation and cultural indicators associated with the evolution of We used argon-40/argon-39 and uranium-series dating to calibrate the chronology of Acheulean and early MSA artifact-rich sedimentary deposits in the Olorgesailie basin, southern Kenya rift. We determined the age of late Acheulean tool assemblages from 615,000 to 499,000 years ago, after which a large technological and faunal transition occurred, with a definitive MSA lacking Acheulean elements beginning most likely by ~320,000 years ago, but at least by 305,000 years ago. These results establish the oldest repository of MSA artifacts in eastern Africa.

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“…1; composite stratigraphy is shown in fig. S8), that document the stone technology, fauna, and environments of the Acheulean-to-MSA sequence (1,2).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronology of the Acheulean to Middle Stone Age transition in eastern Africa

Deino

Behrensmeyer

Brooks

et al. 2018

Science

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“…The study of large Acheulean bifaces overshadows widespread occurrences of smaller flake tools among African Middle Pleistocene assemblages . More recent reports on Acheulean assemblages from the Olorgesailie basin in Kenya (dated ~615–609 Ka) show small (<50 mm) freehand and bipolar cores alongside more iconic handaxes . De la Torre and Mora demonstrate the co‐occurrence of large and small lithic production trajectories in the early Acheulean assemblages at Olduvai Gorge.…”

Section: Lithic Miniaturization: Archeological Observationsmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…92 More recent reports on Acheulean assemblages from the Olorgesailie basin in Kenya (dated~615-609 Ka) show small (<50 mm) freehand and bipolar cores alongside more iconic handaxes. 93 De la Torre and Mora 94 demonstrate the co-occurrence of large and small lithic production trajectories in the early Acheulean assemblages at Olduvai Gorge. The small tool reduction chain seeks to produce small (<30 mm) unretouched flakes.…”

Section: Lithic Miniaturization In Africa and Eurasia Before 45 Kamentioning

confidence: 97%

Going big versus going small: Lithic miniaturization in hominin lithic technology

Pargeter

Shea

2019

Evolutionary Anthropology

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Lithic miniaturization was one of our Pleistocene ancestors' more pervasive stone tool production strategies and it marks a key difference between human and non‐human tool use. Frequently equated with “microlith” production, lithic miniaturization is a more complex, variable, and evolutionarily consequential phenomenon involving small backed tools, bladelets, small retouched tools, flakes, and small cores. In this review, we evaluate lithic miniaturization's various technological and functional elements. We examine archeological assumptions about why prehistoric stoneworkers engaged in processes of lithic miniaturization by making small stone tools, small elongated tools, and small retouched and backed tools. We point to functional differences that motivate different aspects of lithic miniaturization and several instances where archeological systematics have possibly led archeologists to false negative findings about lithic miniaturization. Finally, we suggest productive avenues by which archeologists can move closer to understanding the complex evolutionary forces driving variability in lithic miniaturization.

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“…The recent publication of a trio of papers on paleoanthropological work in the Olorgesailie basin further illustrates the complications currently associated with these topics (Brooks et al, 2018;Deino et al, 2018;Potts et al, 2018). The set of technologies and behaviors traditionally collectively termed as Middle Stone Age are argued to have arisen at Olorgesailie ~300 ka, and are suggested to be linked to environmental changes and major faunal turnover.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Newly discovered Middle Pleistocene hominid-bearing deposits from the Lower Awash basin, Ethiopia

Sahle

Giusti

Tourloukis

2019

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Recent paleoanthropological surveys conducted in the Lower Awash basin (Afar Rift) have led to the discovery of new localities. Here we announce and describe the latest addition to the roster of hominid-bearing research areas in this basin. Located east of the modern Awash River and west of the Megenta mountain ridge, localities in the new research area contain extensive clay and silty-sand deposits variably capped by a widespread sandstone layer rich in archaeology and vertebrate fossils. Some of the localities are associated with volcanic tuffs suitable for radioisotopic age determination. A Middle Pleistocene antiquity is strongly inferred from the sampled fauna and archaeology; precise age estimates await results from ongoing tephra geochronological and geochemical analyses. Much of the archaeology falls under the conventional category of late Acheulean; assemblages identifiable as 'Middle' and 'Later Stone Age' are documented in a few localities. The vertebrate fauna from the closely probed Acheulean and hominid-bearing localities indicates a relatively wooded, near-water habitat. The cranial and postcranial fossil hominid (and faunal) remains from the new localities promise insights into the patterns of human evolution across the Middle Pleistocene, a period currently poorly understood. Similarly, the archaeological occurrences provide unique opportunities for testing outstanding hypotheses about the origin of nuanced technologies and behaviors across the later Middle Pleistocene.

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Environmental dynamics during the onset of the Middle Stone Age in eastern Africa

Cited by 172 publications

References 54 publications

Chronology of the Acheulean to Middle Stone Age transition in eastern Africa

Chronology of the Acheulean to Middle Stone Age transition in eastern Africa

Going big versus going small: Lithic miniaturization in hominin lithic technology

Newly discovered Middle Pleistocene hominid-bearing deposits from the Lower Awash basin, Ethiopia

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