Aspects of late stone age economic organization in Southern Natal

Abstract

The thesis examines patterns in hunter-gatherer exploitation strategies and associated material remains in Southern Natal, South Africa, during the last 3-4,000 years. Chapter 1 sets out the theoretical basis of the work and its general aims and objectives; the research aims both to extend our knowledge of the poorly-known Late Stone Age of Natal, and to model prehistoric exploitation patterns in the research area. Chapter 2 describes the geology, geomorphology, soils, climate and vegetation of Southern Natal and establishes the environmental constraints and opportunities affecting prehistoric populations. Chapter 3 focuses on the natural resources available to hunter-gatherers, and patterns in the distribution and abundance of resources through time and space are identified and discussed. Chapter 4 describes and evaluates the history of archaeological work on the Natal Late Stone Age. The Chapter then summarises the history of contact with the San hunter-gatherers of both Iron Age farmers and white settlers. Ethnographic observations are reported and the final section describes relevant rock art research from Natal. Field-work undertaken between 1978 and 1981 is described in Chapter 5. Two sites were excavated while surface collections of stone artefacts were made at a further four sites. This Chapter, and Chapter 6 which summarises relevant recent publications on Natal sites, provide the database for the modelling of exploitation patterns. Chapter 7 describes and evaluates patterns and correlations in archaeological data from Southern Natal. It is argued that assemblage variability reflects scheduling in resource exploitation strategies in different ecological zones of the research area. Chapter 8 presents a model of Late Stone Age exploitation patterns in Southern Natal. The data-base of the model is assessed and directions for further testing are identified. The final Chapter provides an overview of the Late Stone Age archaeology of the research area in the context both of Natal as a whole and of Southern Africa. Appendices include analyses of assemblage variability, a table of radiocarbon dates and a check-list of over 100 species of indigenous edible plants and their availability in southern Natal. A relevant recent publication is included in the back pocket. The thesis includes 19 Plates, 35 Figures and 59