2026/02/16 by Rowena Winterhalder, Chris Green, Inèz Faul +4 · 2 voices
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Social Sciences · #Archaeology and Rock Art Studies #Archaeology and ancient environmental studies #Excavation #Field survey #Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology #Survey data collection #Survey methodology #Survey research #Test (biology)
paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/0067270x.2026.2627127
openalex publication_date 2026/02/16 · openalex created_date 2026/02/17 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/15
Southern African Middle Stone Age research has largely focused on the region’s coastal caves and rock-shelters, while its semi-arid interior remains under-investigated due to the assumption of limited stratified deposits. Nevertheless, as recent studies prove, this region also possesses potential for contributing to Palaeolithic archaeology. This study presents surveys and excavations in southern Botswana that documented Pleistocene quartzite lithic artefacts near quartzite outcrops and pans (palaeolakes). Excavations at Maralaleng Pan and Itireleng yielded stone artefacts on and below the surface, providing new information about Pleistocene habitation in this region. This paper presents the abundance, condition and spatial distribution of lithic artefacts within an open-air context, connecting them to potential occupational windows within this landscape. Generally, damaged and weathered artefacts are scattered at quartzite outcrops close to pans. Flakes are the most abundant artefact type in every unit, while cores are less common and mostly present at the raw material outcrops. A likely scenario is that the artefacts were manufactured at the raw material outcrops. Various spots of lithic concentrations are influenced by natural processes and are also indicators of occupational windows in a changing landscape. This study aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of human development in the southern Kalahari during the Pleistocene.