Emergence of Modern Human Behavior: Middle Stone Age Engravings from South Africa
2002; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: 295; Issue: 5558 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1126/science.1067575
ISSN1095-9203
AutoresChristopher S. Henshilwood, Francesco d’Errico, Royden Yates, Zenobia Jacobs, Chantal Tribolo, G.A.T. Duller, Norbert Mercier, Judith Sealy, Hélène Valladas, Ian Watts, A.G. Wintle,
Tópico(s)Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
ResumoIn the Eurasian Upper Paleolithic after about 35,000 years ago, abstract or depictional images provide evidence for cognitive abilities considered integral to modern human behavior. Here we report on two abstract representations engraved on pieces of red ochre recovered from the Middle Stone Age layers at Blombos Cave in South Africa. A mean date of 77,000 years was obtained for the layers containing the engraved ochres by thermoluminescence dating of burnt lithics, and the stratigraphic integrity was confirmed by an optically stimulated luminescence age of 70,000 years on an overlying dune. These engravings support the emergence of modern human behavior in Africa at least 35,000 years before the start of the Upper Paleolithic.
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