Geoarchaeological and chronostratigraphical investigations of open‐air sites in the Geelbek Dunes, South Africa

Abstract

The Geelbek Dunes located north of Cape Town, South Africa, are an active, northward migrating dune field. Interdunal deflation hollows temporarily expose former land surfaces that are associated with archaeological sites. These open-air sites shed light on large-scale patterns of Middle and Later Stone Age settlement and augment the information gained from well-stratified, but spatially limited caves, rock shelters, and coastal shell middens. Based on paleopedological and sedimentological parameters, three former land surfaces were identified and associated with different assemblages. A chronostratigraphy of the various land surfaces was established by applying optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. The youngest former land surface is represented by a dune generation (AD2) which stabilized at a maximum of 5 ka. An older dune generation (AD1) shows a more heterogeneous age pattern where deposition started at ca. 27 ka with a maximum estimated age of stabilization at ca. 10 ka. Both of these dune generations overlie a weathered calcrete complex of Middle to Late Pleistocene age. While the third dune generation (AD0) was observed between underlying calcrete layers, samples taken from this unit could not be dated.

Ecosystem engineering in the Quaternary of the West Coast of South Africa

“…The collections of artifacts from Geelbek stem from surface contexts associated with specific geomorphological features. Although the Geelbek collections come from deflated surfaces, the amount of time averaging there is likely less than that seen in the excavated samples from Elandsfontein 77 . Despite the differences in the types of stone artifacts and the formation processes of these assemblages, these indicators of assemblage‐level movement allow useful comparisons because the time averaged nature of these assemblages is still reflective of past behavior 22,87 .…”

“…[76][77][78] Deflation of Quaternary deposits in the Geelbek dunefield has exposed several land surfaces (e.g., paleosols) that have been dated and provide insights into the use of these ancient ecosystems from the Middle Stone Age (150 ka) through to recent times (200 years BP). 77,78 Although most archaeological materials were recovered from surface contexts, the ability to identify underlying paleosols that are associated with specific time horizons allows for an understanding of changes in landscape use at different times in the past. 77,78 The extensive mapping that has been conducted throughout this dunefield provides a rare opportunity to investigate these patterns over relatively large spatial scales.…”

Historical desertification of the Mu Us Desert, Northern China: A multidisciplinary study

“…Next, steel cylinders with a volume of 300 ml were hammered horizontally into the section wall with samples excavated and sealed with light-impervious plastic caps (Fuchs et al, 2008). The OSL sample was collected from the AS part ( Fig.…”

Acheulean artifact accumulation and early hominin land use, Garden Route Casino Road, Pinnacle Point, South Africa

“…We often consider these sites to be discrete and the result of clustered hominin action when in fact it is becoming increasingly clear that ancient landscapes have a rather continuous distribution of artifacts across them, and that these distributions vary in character. This collection represents a 1.5-km transect across an ancient landscape and is thus rare (see also, Cruz-Uribe et al, 2003;Manhire, 1987;Parkington et al, 1992), as most archaeology in southern Africa usually focuses on caves, rockshelters, and coastal shell middens (Fuchs et al, 2008). Potts, Blumenschine, and others have noted the need for excavated collections that are more spatially extensive (Barton et al, 1999;Barton et al, 2002;Blumenschine & Peters, 1998;Paddayya & Petraglia, 1993;Potts, Behrensmeyer, & Ditchfield, 1999).…”

“…Therefore, the Acheulean is a useful period in which to start looking for early expressions of pre-modern or modern human land use behavior. Blumenschine and Peters (1998), Potts, Behrensmeyer, and Ditchfield (1999), and Fuchs et al (2008) have argued that studying sites as separate, discrete points on the landscape spatially limits the data that are recovered from sites. Potts, Behrensmeyer, and Ditchfield have instead proposed conducting laterally extensive excavations to shed more light on how hominins might have been using and adapting to their microhabitats.…”