Contemporaneity of the Typical and Upper Capsian (Northwest African Later Stone Age)

Abstract

The Capsian (9000–5400 cal BC) is an early Holocene Northwest African prehistoric tradition. It is generally divided into two facies: the Typical Capsian (TC) and the Upper Capsian (UC). While the TC was restricted to the eastern Capsian range, the UC existed in both the eastern and western ranges. Initially, these two facies were regarded as two successive phases (1933–1969). But with the arrival of radiocarbon dates, the TC, the eastern UC, and the western UC all came to be viewed as contemporary entities (1970–2002). Later, Rahmani (2003) argued for a return to the original view (1933–1969) and most authors have now come to accept this. Aumassip (2015:31–32), however, has recently argued that Rahmani’s theory may be flawed (“tendentious,” “partisan”). To investigate this possibility, the current paper reviews evidence from lithics, the bone industry, mortuary practices, the fauna, and radiocarbon dates. It concludes that Rahmani’s theory is indeed untenable. In particular, her assumption of western population replacement contradicts most relevant evidence. Due to developments in radiocarbon dating, however, it does not seem possible to return to the 1970–2002 view either, as suggested by Aumassip. A new model (the “H-model”) is therefore presented to reflect available evidence: Before the development of a flint knapping technique (pressure flaking) in the 6000s cal BC, Early Upper Capsians lived in the western Capsian range and Typical Capsians lived in the eastern range. By exchanging ideas, both groups then became Late Upper Capsians together, at the time of the development of pressure flaking. This new model emphasizes population continuity in both east and west.