Sibhudu Cave
Sibhudu
South Africa · KwaZulu-Natal
In brief
The rock shelter's densely stratified deposits preserve detailed evidence of Middle Stone Age life. Organic remains allow the study of bedding preparation, fire use and composite tool production.
What was found?
- 1Layers of plant bedding
Remains of bedding prepared from plants have been preserved in the rock shelter. They provide direct evidence that people deliberately organized the surfaces on which they lived.
- 2Bone tools
Worked bone tools document the use of materials other than stone in toolmaking. They are among the shelter's well-preserved organic finds.
- 3Shell beads
Beads made from shells are tangible examples of personal ornaments. They help researchers investigate the adornment practices of Middle Stone Age people.
- 4Stone tools with adhesive residues
Adhesive and plant and animal residues have been preserved on some stone tools. These make it possible to study how the tools were prepared and used.
What does it point to?
Sibhudu shows that Middle Stone Age people organized their living spaces and worked with different materials. According to researchers, adhesive use and other technological evidence indicate planning and the ability to manage multiple stages of a process.
What did it teach us?
- It documented the use of bedding prepared from plants during the Middle Stone Age.
- Organic residues on stone tools made it possible to study production and use practices.
- Beads and bone tools showed that the period's material culture extended beyond stone tools.
- Dense layers of finds revealed that the shelter was repeatedly used as a living space.
Record
- Culture
- Still Bay, Howiesons Poort and Sibhudan
- First modern dig
- 1998
- Team / historical
- Nicholas Conard and Manuel Will; University of Tübingen
- Coordinates
- -29.5220°, 31.0860°
Sources
Nearby excavations
- Border Cave 292 km
- Wonderwerk Cave 758 km
- Mapungubwe Hill 836 km
- Great Zimbabwe 1,029 km
- Khami Ruins 1,076 km
- Blombos Cave 1,077 km
- —
- —
- 12.000
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