The Howieson's Poort fauna from Sibudu Cave: Documenting continuity and change within Middle Stone Age industries

Abstract

The Howieson's Poort (HP; ∼65-59 ka) continues to be a source of interest to scholars studying human behavioral evolution during the Late Pleistocene. This is in large part because the HP preserves evidence for a suite of innovative technologies and behaviors (including geometric backed tools and engraved ostrich eggshell), but also because the disappearance of the innovative behaviors associated with this phase is not well understood. Here, I present taphonomic and taxonomic data on the full sample of macromammal remains excavated from the HP deposits at Sibudu Cave under the direction of Lyn Wadley. With a total number of identified specimens (NISP) of 5921, Sibudu provides the largest sample of HP fauna published to date. Taken as a whole, the data suggest a focus on a diverse range of prey. Ungulates dominate the assemblage, as do taxa that preferentially inhabit closed (particularly forested) environments. Small bovids are common throughout; blue duiker (Philantomba monticola) alone comprises ∼33% of the total NISP. A diverse smaller game assemblage is also present. Taphonomic data implicate humans as the primary contributor to the fauna; however, low levels of gastric etching (∼1% of the NISP) suggest that non-human agents may have played some role in the accumulation of the smaller game. Despite broad similarities in the fauna, a number of directional trends are evidenced. Most notably, the lowermost deposits of the HP contain the highest frequency of blue duiker and other small ungulates, taxa which prefer closed environments, and miscellaneous smaller game. All of these decline throughout the HP, and these differences are statistically significant. After considering possible explanations for these trends, I discuss the potential implications of the variation evidenced in the assemblage to our understanding of the onset-and disappearance-of this important substage of the MSA.

Regional patterns of diachronic technological change in the Howiesons Poort of southern Africa

“…More open landscape prey in the upper part of the sequence correlates with a steady decline of small game. These slowly opening environments reflected in prey representation co-vary with the consistent techno-typological changes found here, as already suspected by Clark [ 84 : 67]. The covariation of these factors suggests a feedback between changing prey types, reduced subsistence intensification and preferred lithic weaponry (e.g.…”

“…Information from phytoliths, charcoal, seeds, and stable isotopes suggests thick evergreen forest with many closed-environment species and high humidity for the local environment of Sibudu for the HP [ 118 – 122 ]. Yet, layer-by-layer data on hunted macro-fauna suggest gradual opening of the local landscape during the HP dating to ~65–60 ka [ 84 , 123 ]. In terms of subsistence, all HP layers show a dominance of smaller bovids preferring wooded habitats such as the blue duiker [ 124 , 125 ], but there are consistent diachronic trends.…”

“…In terms of subsistence, all HP layers show a dominance of smaller bovids preferring wooded habitats such as the blue duiker [ 124 , 125 ], but there are consistent diachronic trends. Clark [ 84 , 123 ] found significant differences between the lower (PGS) and middle (GS) vs. upper (GR) part of the HP in the proportion of open vs- closed-dwelling species. More open landscape prey in the upper part of the sequence correlates with a steady decline of small game.…”

“…Sibudu with its rich, high-resolution stratigraphy and organic preservation allows us to examine some of these hypotheses in detail [see e.g. 84 ], and we extend this on a coarser scale to other HP sites in as much as the published data permit.…”

Technological variability at Sibudu Cave: The end of Howiesons Poort and reduced mobility strategies after 62,000 years ago

“…The evergreen forest in the Howiesons Poort was home to the Gambian giant rat, Geoffroy’s horseshoe bat ( Rhinolophus clivosus ), blue duiker, bush pig and other forest or closed environment animals [ 43 – 45 ]. The giant rat lives only in evergreen forest and woodland where rainfall is greater than 800 mm annually [ 46 ]:193 and the bat also requires high humidity [ 47 ]:36.…”