Book
Late Pleistocene and Holocene hunter-gatherers of the Matopos: an archaeological study of change and continuity in Zimbabwe
Societas Archaeologica Upsaliensis • Uppsala • Published In 1995 • Pages: 284
By: Walker, Nicholas John.
Abstract
Walker reports on his archaeological findings from the region known as the Matopos in western Zimbabwe. The archaeology encompasses the time period from 15,000 B.P. to 1500 B.P. Only the material that pertains to the Wilton period (10,000 B.P. to 2000 B.P.) was indexed for OCM (Outline of Cultural Materials) codes. Eight sites were excavated and six others had their assemblages re-examined. The main orientation at the start of the field work was to allow Walker to examine the relationship between proposed carrying capacity and expected resource use in the Matopos. This was compared with the actual archaeological findings. Key findings include food resources were based on gathering marula (rather than a wide range of plants) and on hunting a wide range of small animals, at least during the mid Holocene. Group size and population also changed with changes in hunting strategies. Walker believes some of the changes in backed tools (arrows) and beads may indicate a symbolic way to communicate group differences or group boundaries and a way to reinforce social or ritual messages. The archaeological changes that occurred in the Matopos are compared with some of the changes that occurred throughout southern Africa.
- HRAF PubDate
- 2004
- Region
- Africa
- Sub Region
- Southern Africa
- Document Type
- Book
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Archaeologist
- Document Rating
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- Sarah Berry ; 2002
- Field Date
- 1975-1982
- Coverage Date
- 10,000 BP- 2000 BP
- Coverage Place
- the Matopos; Zimbabwe
- Notes
- by Nicholas John Walker
- Includes bibliographical references (p. 259-270)
- LCCN
- 95212019
- LCSH
- South Africa--Antiquities