Variability in hunting behaviour during the Middle Stone Age in the Eastern and Western Cape of South Africa. (August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Badenhorst, Shaw; Ezeimo, Joel; Lebatla, Luyanda T.; van Niekerk, Karen L.; Henshilwood, Christopher S.
• Is Part Of: Journal of archaeological science. Volume 44(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08
• Subjects: Game index -- Modified degree of vegetation cover index -- Blombos cave -- Prey selection -- Sample size; Archaeology -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Research -- Periodicals; 930.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2022.103527
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-409X

Abstract

Highlights: Large mammal remains from Middle Stone Age sites in southern Africa show variability in prey selection. At some sites, notably Blombos Cave (M3 phase) and Die Kelders (layers 6, 10, 12 and 14), hominins were focussing on acquiring small prey. At these two sites, the coastal dunes offered plentiful resources to obtain Cape dune molerats, rock hyraxes and steenbok/grysbok. The focus on small game hunting may not necessarily relate to depletion of large game resources, but rather that hominins were exploiting the sandy substrates close to habitation caves. Abstract: Large mammal remains from Middle Stone Age sites in southern Africa, just like in many other parts of Africa, show variability in prey selection. While smaller game are often considered less profitable in terms of meat returns, their abundance and fast reproduction meant that they were often favoured over larger prey species. The Game Index measures the ratio between smaller and larger prey in faunal samples. When applied to MSA faunal assemblages with low probabilities of carnivore activity, it is apparent that at some sites, notably Blombos Cave (M3 phase) and Die Kelders (layers 6, 10, 12 and 14), hominins were focussing on acquiring small prey. At these two sites, the coastal dunes offered plentiful resources to obtain Cape dune molerats, rock hyraxes and steenbok/grysbok. The focus on small game hunting may not necessarily relate to depletion of large game resources, but rather that hominins were exploiting the sandy substrates close to habitation caves.