Archaeological survey near Tsabong, Kgalagadi District, southwestern Botswana

Dados Bibliográficos

ID6042013
AutoresMichaela Ecker (0000-0001-9581-1882, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, autor correspondente), Chris Green (0000-0001-6620-4979, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel), A Gwynn Henderson (0009-0005-5731-1146, Archaeology Department, McGregor Museum, Kimberley, 8301, South Africa), Inèz Faul (0000-0001-5856-9978, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel), Phillip Segadika (0009-0009-9314-8883, Department of National Museum and Monuments, Khama Crescent, Gaborone, 9999, Botswana), Sarah Mothulatshipi (0000-0002-1082-5140, University of Botswana)
Ano2023
Volume58
Fascículo4
Páginas517-535
Data de publicação2023-10-02
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoAzania Archaeological Research in Africa (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0067-270X • E-ISSN: 1945-5534
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/0067270x.2023.2260150
OpenAlexW4387169684
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas31

The importance of the arid interior of southern Africa for human evolution has come into focus in recent years. However, the current distribution of archaeological sites is limited to the southern margin of the Kalahari sediments in South Africa and to the northern part of Botswana. Surface scatters of archaeological artefacts in other parts of the Kalahari have not been studied systematically despite their potential to test human adaptation to marginal environments in the past. We developed a mobile Geographical Information System (GIS) set-up that allows us to record the archaeological potential of Botswana’s southwestern Kgalagadi district in a rapid and standardised manner. This paper describes five archaeological sites identified through our survey in the wider area around the town of Tsabong. Four of these sites, as well as the majority of identified surface archaeology, belong to the Middle Stone Age based on a first assessment of their lithic typology. A pattern is emerging of particular concentration of these sites on or near quartzite outcrops that are located next to pans. Additionally, six test pits confirmed the high potential for further archaeological investigations in this area using a landscape approach

Archaeological record · Archaeology · Arid · Geoarchaeology · Geography · Middle Stone Age · Outcrop · Pleistocene · Prehistory · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Archaeology and Rock Art Studies · Geology · Paleontology · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology