Nassarius kraussianus shell beads from Blombos Cave:: evidence for symbolic behaviour in the Middle Stone Age
Nassarius kraussianus shell beads from Blombos Cave:: evidence for symbolic behaviour in the Middle Stone Age
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DOI：
10.1016/j.jhevol.2004.09.002
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发表时间：
2005-01-01
影响因子：
3.2
通讯作者：
van Niekerk, K
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
d'Errico, F;Henshilwood, C;van Niekerk, K
自1991年以来，布隆博斯洞穴的挖掘工作已经发现了保存完好的中石器时代（MSA）动物群和文化材料样本。最高的MSA阶段，M1，日期为c。75 ka的光释光（OSL）和热释光，M2中期到临时c. 78 ka。这些阶段的MSA背景下不寻常的人工制品包括双面点，骨工具，雕刻赭石和雕刻骨。在本文中，我们描述了四十一个海洋蜱壳珠回收这些MSA阶段和蜱壳珠晚石器时代（LSA）的水平在布隆伯斯洞穴和模具Kelders网站。39个壳珠来自上部M1相，2个来自M2相。现代组合的活的和死的蜱壳的形态，taphonomic和显微镜分析表明，穿孔的织纹螺kraussianus壳的存在下，在布隆伯斯MSA水平不能是由于自然过程或意外运输的人类。在MSA贝壳上看到的穿孔类型在现代的死贝壳堆积物上是不存在的，不能归因于沉积后的损坏。它们的位置、大小和显微特征与用尖锐的骨尖穿过孔刺穿壳壁的实验结果相似。在穿孔边缘、外唇和孔壁上记录的磨损表明贝壳已经被穿线和磨损。MSA贝壳珠在大小、穿孔类型、磨损模式和色调上与LSA珠相比有显著差异，这消除了在各个层面上混合的可能性。在四组5至12个珠子中发现了31个珠子，每组在单个正方形或在单个挖掘日期间在两个相邻的子正方形中回收。在一组中，贝壳显示出相似的色调、使用磨损模式和穿孔大小，表明它们来自同一珠饰物品，在单一事件中丢失或丢弃。这些发现可能具有的象征意义表明，MSA人的认知现代行为水平以前与MSA人无关。(c)2004爱思唯尔有限公司保留所有权利。
Since 1991, excavations at Blombos Cave have yielded a well-preserved sample of faunal and cultural material in Middle Stone Age (MSA) levels. The uppermost MSA phase, M1, is dated to c. 75 ka by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and thermoluminescence, and the middle M2 phase to a provisional c. 78 ka. Artefacts unusual in a MSA context from these phases include bifacial points, bone tools, engraved ochre and engraved bone. In this paper, we describe forty-one marine tick shell beads recovered from these MSA phases and tick shell beads from Later Stone Age (LSA) levels at Blombos Cave and the Die Kelders site. Thirty-nine shell beads come from the upper M1 phase and two from M2. Morphometric, taphonomic and microscopic analysis of modern assemblages of living and dead tick shell demonstrate that the presence of perforated Nassarius kraussianus shells in the Blombos MSA levels cannot be due to natural processes or accidental transport by humans. The types of perforation seen on the MSA shells are absent on modern accumulations of dead shells and not attributable to post-depositional damage. Their location, size, and microscopic features are similar to those obtained experimentally by piercing the shell wall, through the aperture, with a sharp bone point. Use-wear, recorded on the perforation edge, the outer lip, and the parietal wall of the aperture indicates the shells having being strung and worn. MSA shell beads differ significantly in size, perforation type, wear pattern and shade compared to LSA beads and this eliminates the possibility of mixing across respective levels.Thirty-one beads were found in four groups of five to twelve beads, each group being recovered in a single square or in two adjacent sub-squares during a single excavation day. Within a group, shells display a similar shade, use-wear pattern and perforation size suggesting their provenance from the same beadwork item, lost or disposed during a single event. The likely symbolic significance of these finds suggests levels of cognitively modern behaviour not previously associated with MSA people. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.