The impact of micro-residue studies on South African Middle Stone Age research

Abstract

The Middle Stone Age of South Africa currently plays a central role in studies of the origins of symbolic behaviour. Micro-residue analyses on stone tools from sites with long Middle Stone Age sequences and good organic preservation are producing direct contextual evidence and detailed information about past technologies and associated behaviours. In this chapter we provide a brief and selected overview of some of our published contributions and demonstrate how micro- residue studies can now be used to assess hypotheses regarding hunting efficiency and hafting technologies. Compelling evidence is being produced that is contrary to the once-held notion that the Middle Stone Age shows little meaningful change through time. The cumulative results provide clear evidence for variability and change associated with anatomically modern humans. While our published work demonstrates our commitment to a multi-analytical approach to use- trace analysis, including micro-residue, use-wear and macrofracture analyses, we focus here on residues as it was also the focus of Tom Loy's research in South Africa.