The Middle Stone Age of Eastern Africa
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11884704 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Laura Basell, Laura S Basell (0000-0001-8348-5565, Bournemouth University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2013 |
| Publication date | 2013-07-04 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | BOOK |
| Venue | The Oxford Handbook Of African Archaeology (SOURCE_BOOK) |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199569885.013.0027 |
| OpenAlex | W2613179102 |
| ISBN | 9780199569885 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
The Middle Stone Age (MSA) covers the evolution, emergence, and dispersal of Homo sapiens. This article focuses on archaeological data and on published material from key stratified sites with some form of geochronological control from across eastern Africa. The MSA is often characterised by a shift from handaxe production towards discoidal and Levallois techniques. Although evidence for the controlled use of fire remains minimal, it seems likely that MSA hominins used it, as well as being highly skilled in working stone and probably bone and wood. MSA hominins appear to have exploited a range of different ecozones and many MSA sites are focused on ecotones, maximising access to resources. Over time, use of rockshelters and caves also seems to have increased. Although much work remains, the MSA is presently one of the most exciting and dynamic periods in the study of human evolution
Archaeology · Biological dispersal · Biological evolution · Biology · Cave · Evolutionary biology · Geography · Hominidae · Homo sapiens · Middle Stone Age · Neanderthal · Out of africa · Population · Stone tool · Demography · Evolution and Paleontology Studies · Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies · Geology · Paleontology · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
| Citations per year | 0.29 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2019 - 2019 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |