Cᵉ siècle av. J.-C.
Orange Free State, South Africa
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Florisbad is a spring-associated archaeological and palaeoanthropological site on the South African high plateau. Its stratified sequence includes three peat levels that represent intervals of spring quiescence between sands deposited during periods of spring activity. The lowest peat is probably more than 100,000 years old and yielded extinct fauna, an incomplete Homo helmei cranium, and a Middle Stone Age assemblage including choppers, polyhedrons, pounding stones, and possibly long blades. A later level, Peat II, is dated to older than 42,600 BP.
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Le récit
Florisbad lies among high-plateau sites in the grasslands described as zuurveld, alongside Vlakkraal and other localities. Its archaeological importance comes from a stratified sequence formed around active springs. Three peat levels record episodes when spring activity ceased, while intervening sands accumulated during renewed activity.
The lowest peat is probably more than 100,000 years old, beyond the range of radiocarbon dating. It yielded a fauna containing several extinct forms of giant antelope, an incomplete cranium attributed in the passage to Homo helmei, and an artifact assemblage of choppers, polyhedrons, pounding stones, and perhaps long blades comparable with early Middle Stone Age material from the Transvaal.
The same lowest peat may also have produced the grip-end of a wooden throwing-stick, identified through cut marks that would have helped provide a firmer grip. Peat II has been dated to older than 42,600 BP and is associated below with long narrow blades made from indurated shale, together with unifacially retouched points and scrapers. The sequence therefore joins environmental, faunal, human, and technological evidence.
Cᵉ siècle av. J.-C.
Orange Free State, South Africa
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Florisbad is a spring-associated archaeological and palaeoanthropological site on the South African high plateau. Its stratified sequence includes three peat levels that represent intervals of spring quiescence between sands deposited during periods of spring activity. The lowest peat is probably more than 100,000 years old and yielded extinct fauna, an incomplete Homo helmei cranium, and a Middle Stone Age assemblage including choppers, polyhedrons, pounding stones, and possibly long blades. A later level, Peat II, is dated to older than 42,600 BP.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
Florisbad lies among high-plateau sites in the grasslands described as zuurveld, alongside Vlakkraal and other localities. Its archaeological importance comes from a stratified sequence formed around active springs. Three peat levels record episodes when spring activity ceased, while intervening sands accumulated during renewed activity.
The lowest peat is probably more than 100,000 years old, beyond the range of radiocarbon dating. It yielded a fauna containing several extinct forms of giant antelope, an incomplete cranium attributed in the passage to Homo helmei, and an artifact assemblage of choppers, polyhedrons, pounding stones, and perhaps long blades comparable with early Middle Stone Age material from the Transvaal.
The same lowest peat may also have produced the grip-end of a wooden throwing-stick, identified through cut marks that would have helped provide a firmer grip. Peat II has been dated to older than 42,600 BP and is associated below with long narrow blades made from indurated shale, together with unifacially retouched points and scrapers. The sequence therefore joins environmental, faunal, human, and technological evidence.