60th century BCE – 10th century
Matopo Hills, Zimbabwe
The Matopan Industry was a microlithic Later Stone Age industry of the Matopo Hills in Zimbabwe. It appears to have lasted from the sixth millennium BC until after the arrival of Iron Age peoples during the first millennium AD. Small convex scrapers predominated at Amadzimba Cave, while backed microliths were less frequent, with backed blades more numerous than crescents. Bone tools, ostrich-eggshell beads, pottery, and Bambata ware occur in associated or later levels.
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The Story
The Matopan Industry is the local name applied to the microlithic mode 5 assemblage formerly known as “Wilton” in the Matopo Hills near Bulawayo. The renaming was intended to avoid assuming a long-distance correlation with the inadequately described Wilton material from the eastern Cape. Its principal evidence comes from sites including Pomongwe Cave, Tshangula Cave, and Amadzimba Cave.
At Pomongwe and Tshangula, Matopan deposits overlie a Pomongwan level and contain a microlithic mode 5 aggregate. The industry appears to have lasted from the sixth millennium BC until after Iron Age peoples arrived in the area during the first millennium AD. Because detailed analysis has not been published, the degree of technological development across this very long span cannot be evaluated securely.
At Amadzimba Cave, small convex scrapers dominate the assemblage. Backed microliths are markedly less frequent, and backed blades outnumber crescents. The site also yielded bone points, bodkins, link-shafts, eyed needles, ostrich-eggshell beads, and tubular bone beads. At Bambata and Madiliyangwa, Early Iron Age potsherds occur in upper Matopan levels, while Bambata ware is also found in Later Stone Age contexts.
60th century BCE – 10th century
Matopo Hills, Zimbabwe
The Matopan Industry was a microlithic Later Stone Age industry of the Matopo Hills in Zimbabwe. It appears to have lasted from the sixth millennium BC until after the arrival of Iron Age peoples during the first millennium AD. Small convex scrapers predominated at Amadzimba Cave, while backed microliths were less frequent, with backed blades more numerous than crescents. Bone tools, ostrich-eggshell beads, pottery, and Bambata ware occur in associated or later levels.
Continue exploring
The Story
The Matopan Industry is the local name applied to the microlithic mode 5 assemblage formerly known as “Wilton” in the Matopo Hills near Bulawayo. The renaming was intended to avoid assuming a long-distance correlation with the inadequately described Wilton material from the eastern Cape. Its principal evidence comes from sites including Pomongwe Cave, Tshangula Cave, and Amadzimba Cave.
At Pomongwe and Tshangula, Matopan deposits overlie a Pomongwan level and contain a microlithic mode 5 aggregate. The industry appears to have lasted from the sixth millennium BC until after Iron Age peoples arrived in the area during the first millennium AD. Because detailed analysis has not been published, the degree of technological development across this very long span cannot be evaluated securely.
At Amadzimba Cave, small convex scrapers dominate the assemblage. Backed microliths are markedly less frequent, and backed blades outnumber crescents. The site also yielded bone points, bodkins, link-shafts, eyed needles, ostrich-eggshell beads, and tubular bone beads. At Bambata and Madiliyangwa, Early Iron Age potsherds occur in upper Matopan levels, while Bambata ware is also found in Later Stone Age contexts.