Wood Charcoal from Border Cave’s Member 1RGBS: Evidence for the Environment and Plant Use During MIS 5

Zwane, Bongekile; Bamford, Marion K.

doi:10.1007/s10437-021-09448-4

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Nonetheless, there is some overlap between climatic conclusions reached by Avery and ones presented here. The identification of mopane wood in Member 1 RGBS byZwane and Bamford (2021b) supports the Avery interpretation of this woodland type.…”

supporting

confidence: 74%

“…Certainly, we find no evidence at Border Cave to support 1998 suggestion that the Toba eruption caused depopulation. Although not present in our charcoal collection, nor present near the cave nowadays, a small amount of Colophospermum mopane charcoal was recently identified in Member 1 RGBS (Zwane and Bamford, 2021b). This tree thrives in hot, dry conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

“…Cave and that miombo was later replaced by vegetation similar to mopane woodland (Avery, 1992). Colophospermum mopane charcoal was indeed found in layer Faan (Member 1 RGBS) (Zwane and Bamford, 2021b), but has not previously sequence, and the tree does not grow near the cave nowadays. Miombo woodland also does not occur near Border Cave today, but a small relic miombo woodland survives in northern South Africa, in the Soutpansberg mountains (Pienaar, 2015).…”

Section: Research Hypothesismentioning

confidence: 99%

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A vegetation record based on charcoal analysis from Border Cave, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, ∼227 000 to ∼44 000 years ago

Lennox

Backwell

d’Errico

et al. 2022

Quaternary Science Reviews

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supporting

confidence: 74%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 76%

Section: Research Hypothesismentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A vegetation record based on charcoal analysis from Border Cave, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, ∼227 000 to ∼44 000 years ago

Lennox

Backwell

d’Errico

et al. 2022

Quaternary Science Reviews

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“…With important exceptions (e.g. Lennox and Bamford, 2017), wood charcoal studies from palaeolithic sites in southern Africa have focussed on palaeoenvironmental reconstruction (Cartwright, 2013, Cowling et al ., 1999; Parkington et al ., 2000; Porraz et al ., 2016; Zwane and Bamford, 2021a,b). In part this is due to the general lack of other well‐resolved terrestrial archives that allow palaeocological baselines to be established (though note, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coherent changes in wood charcoals, site occupation and lithic technology across the MIS 4/3 transition at Klein Kliphuis rock shelter, South Africa

Mackay

Cartwright

2022

J Quaternary Science

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We explore the correspondence between changing palaeoenvironments, patterns of site use, and lithic technology at the rock shelter site Klein Kliphuis (South Africa) across the interval 65–55 000 years before present. This period coincides with the termination of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 4, and the disappearance of an iconic late Pleistocene archaeological unit known as the Howiesons Poort. Wood charcoals indicate sufficient soil moisture around Klein Kliphuis throughout the Howiesons Poort to support diverse tree species at a time when site occupation was relatively intense. At least some fuelwood‐gathering in this period may have been undertaken to support heat treatment of silcrete, which was the dominant lithology in tool production. A coherent set of changes occurs across the MIS 4/3 transition: occupational intensity declines, tracked by declining diversity of fuelwood species, an increase in the proportion of charcoals from shrubs and small flowering plants, lower prevalence of silcrete, and less heat treatment. While declining soil moisture is implied, there appears to be a significant change in behaviour relating to site usage, whereby foraging for dense fuelwoods was replaced by the construction of ‘fast fires’ that may reflect briefer visits and increased forager mobility in early MIS 3.

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“…Combretum species are highly sought after in southern Africa due to its extensive use in traditional medicine Ndove, 2015, Zwane andBamford, 2021). Phytochemical analysis of C.…”

Section: Rationale For the Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

The secretory scales and medicinal properties of combretum erythrophyllum.

Bantho

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Medicinal plants are known to contain phytometabolites that could effectively improve an individual’s state of health. Species of Combretum are highly valued in Africa due to the plethora of their traditional medicinal uses. Combretum erythrophyllum. Burch. Sond., commonly known as the river bushwillow, is known to contain medicinally important phytometabolites. Traditionally, the foliage is used to treat venereal diseases and abdominal pain, whilst the bark is used to alleviate sores, infertility, and labour pains. Although C. erythrophyllum has numerous traditional medicinal uses, there is limited scientific knowledge on the micromorphological structures and the associated exudate. Thus, this study aimed to characterize the micromorphological features of leaf and stembark secretory apparatus of C. erythrophyllum, using light and electron microscopy. Furthermore, a histo-phytochemical analysis was conducted to determine the presence and localization of phytometabolites within the trichomes and exudate. The antioxidant, antibacterial, apoptotic and cytotoxic potential of the leaf and stembark extracts were also evaluated. The micromorphological analysis identified the presence of peltate scales and non- glandular trichomes across surfaces. Peltate scales were comprised of a sunken basal cell, bicellular stalk, and a multicellular head. Head cell count appeared to increase upon leaf maturation. The granulocrine pathway was identified as a possible mode of secretion for C. erythrophyllum due to the extensive presence of vesicles, vacuoles, and electron dense material within the peltate scales. Preliminary histo-phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of carbohydrates, sterols, lipids, phenolic compounds, total proteins, alkaloids, and essential oils. Thin-layer chromatography allowed for the visualization of 36 compound classes while gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed 266 compounds present. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis confirmed the presence of phenols, alkenes, amines, alcohols, and esters among many. The antioxidant ability of the generated extracts were evaluated using the 2,2- diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate antioxidant assay and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power assay. A positive correlation between % inhibition and extract concentrations, was noted in both. In both instances, the methanol stembark extracts performed the best, (Leaf- 5,2866 and Stembark- 4,2866 μg/mL). Furthermore, the results obtained from the total flavonoid assay correlated with the trend observed through the total phenolic assay, whereby methanolic extracts yielded most promising results. Additionally, this study aimed to generate silver nanoparticles using crude extracts. A novel protocol for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the leaf and stembark extracts of C. erythrophyllum was established. The generated AgNPs were characterized and evaluated for its potential antibacterial activity. Methanolic extracts inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus aureus. Lastly, the generated crude extracts displayed promising results when evaluated for their cytotoxic and apoptotic abilities however upon nanoencapsulation the cytotoxic and apoptotic capabilities increased significantly. In correlation with the above, the AgNPs appeared to intensify the overall inhibition activity. Based on the findings of the study, Combretum erythrophyllum has a reservoir of unexplored allopathic potential which could revolutionize the medicinal world.

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Wood Charcoal from Border Cave’s Member 1RGBS: Evidence for the Environment and Plant Use During MIS 5

Cited by 11 publications

References 33 publications

A vegetation record based on charcoal analysis from Border Cave, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, ∼227 000 to ∼44 000 years ago

A vegetation record based on charcoal analysis from Border Cave, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, ∼227 000 to ∼44 000 years ago

Coherent changes in wood charcoals, site occupation and lithic technology across the MIS 4/3 transition at Klein Kliphuis rock shelter, South Africa

The secretory scales and medicinal properties of combretum erythrophyllum.

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