d'Errico Francesco, Henshilwood Christopher S
Institut de Préhistoire et de Géologie du Quaternaire, CNRS UMR 5199 PACEA, Université Bordeaux 1, avenue des Facultés, F-33405 Talence, France.
J Hum Evol. 2007 Feb;52(2):142-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2006.08.003. Epub 2006 Aug 18.
Few Middle Stone Age sites have yielded convincing evidence for a complex bone technology, a behavior often associated with the emergence of modern cultures. Here, we review the published evidence for Middle Stone Age bone tools from southern Africa, analyze an additional nine bone artifacts recently recovered from Middle Stone Age levels at Blombos Cave, describe an unpublished bone tool from probable Middle Stone Age levels at Peers Cave, examine a single bone awl found at Blombosch Sands (an open site near Blombos Cave), and reappraise marked bone artifacts and a bone point recovered from Klasies River. To determine the chronological and cultural attribution of these artifacts, document bone-manufacturing techniques associated with the southern African MSA, and discuss the symbolic significance of the markings present on some of these objects we use (1) available contextual information; (2) morphometric comparison of Later Stone Age, Modern San, and purported Middle Stone Age projectile points; (3) analysis of the carbon/nitrogen content of bone tools and faunal remains from Peers and Blombos caves; and (4) microscopic analysis of traces of manufacture and use. Previously undescribed bone artifacts from Blombos Cave include a massive point manufactured on weathered bone, two complete awls and two awl tips manufactured on small-sized mammal and bird bone, a probable projectile point with a tang manufactured by knapping and scraping, a shaft fragment modified by percussion, used as retoucher and bearing a set of incised lines on the middle of the periosteal surface, and two fragments with possible engravings. The point from Peers Cave can be assigned to the Middle Stone Age and bears tiny markings reminiscent of those recorded on projectile points from Blombos and used as marks of ownership on San arrow points. The awl from Blombosch Sands and the bone point from Klasies River can be attributed to the Later Stone Age. Two notched objects from Klasies are attributed to the Middle Stone Age and interpreted as tools used on soft material; a third object bears possible deliberate symbolic engravings. Although low in number, the instances of bone artifacts attributable to the Middle Stone Age is increasing and demonstrates that the bone tools from Blombos Cave are not isolated instances. New discoveries of bone tools dating to this time period can be expected.
很少有中石器时代遗址能提供令人信服的复杂骨器技术证据,而这种行为通常与现代文化的出现相关。在此,我们回顾了已发表的来自南部非洲中石器时代骨器的证据,分析了最近从布隆伯斯洞穴中石器时代地层中出土的另外九件骨器,描述了一件可能来自皮尔斯洞穴中石器时代地层的未发表的骨器,研究了在布隆伯斯沙滩(布隆伯斯洞穴附近的一个露天遗址)发现的一件骨锥,并重新评估了从克拉西斯河出土的有标记骨器和一件骨尖。为了确定这些器物的年代和文化归属,记录与南部非洲中石器时代相关的骨器制造技术,并讨论其中一些器物上标记的象征意义,我们采用了以下方法:(1)利用现有的背景信息;(2)对晚石器时代、现代桑人以及所谓的中石器时代投射尖进行形态测量比较;(3)分析皮尔斯洞穴和布隆伯斯洞穴骨器及动物遗骸的碳/氮含量;(4)对制造和使用痕迹进行微观分析。布隆伯斯洞穴中以前未描述过的骨器包括一件用风化骨制成的大型尖器、两件完整的骨锥以及两件用小型哺乳动物和鸟类骨头制成的骨锥尖、一件可能通过敲击和刮削制成的带柄投射尖、一件经敲击改造的轴碎片,用作修整器,在骨膜表面中部有一组刻线,还有两件可能有雕刻的碎片。皮尔斯洞穴的尖器可归为中石器时代,上面有微小的标记,让人联想到布隆伯斯投射尖上记录的标记,这些标记在桑人箭头上被用作所有权标记。布隆伯斯沙滩的骨锥和克拉西斯河的骨尖可归为晚石器时代。克拉西斯河的两件有缺口的器物归为中石器时代,被解释为用于软质材料的工具;第三件器物可能有刻意的象征雕刻。尽管数量不多,但可归为中石器时代的骨器实例正在增加,这表明布隆伯斯洞穴的骨器并非孤立现象。预计会有更多这个时期骨器的新发现。