'Stuck like glue' : assessing variability in hafting adhesives in the southern African Later Stone Age
The characterisation of hafting adhesives, the glue of composite tools, by chemical analysis and microscopy provides a means by which we may evaluate these plastic components of technologies; reliable systems that have allowed members of our species to exist in dynamic environments and exploit a variety of resources. In southern Africa, the well-preserved assemblages of the Later Stone Age present a unique opportunity to evaluate the raw material sources of these adhesives. This thesis highlights the findings of the first multi-site study of hafting adhesives from the Holocene assemblages. The results a multi-method microscopic and chemical analysis suggest there is evidence to support variations in adhesive sources between ecological biomes and through time, with a dominance in compound adhesives found at the case study sites. The analyses of material from Sehonghong (Lesotho, Grassland) suggests a transition to the use of non-local adhesive materials among the last hunter-gatherer populations of the site. Evidence from Melkhoutboom in the Thicket Biome highlights the longstanding use of conifer pitch throughout the Holocene, while isolated hafted implements recovered from coastal caves further west along
Veall, Margaret-Ashley
Archaeology
'Stuck like glue' : assessing variability in hafting adhesives in the southern African Later Stone Age. The characterisation of hafting adhesives, the glue of composite tools, by chemical analysis and microscopy provides a means by which we may evaluate these plastic components of technologies; reliable systems that have allowed members of our species to exist in dynamic environments and exploit a variety of resources. In southern Africa, the well-preserved assemblages of the Later Stone Age present a unique opportunity to evaluate the raw material sources of these adhesives. This thesis highlights the findings of the first multi-site study of hafting adhesives from the Holocene assemblages. The results a multi-method microscopic and chemical analysis suggest there is evidence to support variations in adhesive sources between ecological biomes and through time, with a dominance in compound adhesives found at the case study sites. The analyses of material from Sehonghong (Lesotho, Grassland) suggests a transition to the use of non-local adhesive materials among the last hunter-gatherer populations of the site. Evidence from Melkhoutboom in the Thicket Biome highlights the longstanding use of conifer pitch throughout the Holocene, while isolated hafted implements recovered from coastal caves further west along
like assess variability southern african later stone_age characterisation composite tool chemical_analysis microscopy provide mean may evaluate plastic component technology reliable system_allow member specie exist dynamic environment exploit variety resource southern_africa well_preserved assemblage later stone_age present_unique opportunity evaluate raw_material source highlight finding first multi site study holocene assemblage multi_method microscopic chemical_analysis suggest evidence_support variation source ecological time dominance compound find case_study site analysis material grassland suggest transition use non_local material among last hunter_gatherer population site evidence highlight longstanding use pitch throughout holocene isolate hafted implement recover coastal cave west along