An experimental micromorphological investigation of bedding construction in the Middle Stone Age of Sibudu,South Africa |
| |
Authors: | Christopher E. Miller Christine Sievers |
| |
Affiliation: | 1. Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Ruemelinstr. 23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany;2. School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, PO Wits 2050, South Africa |
| |
Abstract: | We conducted experiments to compare the micromorphological signatures of modern burnt sedge and grass bedding to laminated layers of carbonized material and phytoliths in Middle Stone Age deposits at the shelter, Sibudu. The experiments were designed to clarify the formation processes associated with the laminated layers and to investigate whether these previously identified layers of bedding were deliberately burned or not. The results indicate that the laminated layers were most likely produced by human activity related to the construction, maintenance and burning of bedding. Furthermore, our experiments demonstrate that large volumes of vegetal material could have produced the relatively thin, archaeological deposits of burnt bedding. |
| |
Keywords: | Sibudu Middle Stone Age Bedding Experiments Micromorphology |
本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录! |
|