Book

Late Pleistocene and Holocene hunter-gatherers of the Matopos: an archaeological study of change and continuity in Zimbabwe

Societas Archaeologica UpsaliensisUppsala • 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.
Subjects
Fauna
Flora
Bone, horn, and shell technology
Lithic industries
General tools
Visual arts
tradition
Wilton
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