Continuity and Transition from the Early to Mid-Holocene at the Foothills of the Drakensberg: Preliminary Results from the Current Excavations of Strathalan Cave A, North-Eastern Cape, South Africa

Abstract

The foothills of the Drakensberg are a significant region in understanding the links between environmental conditions and the spread of social networks across southern Africa. Strathalan Cave is an important site in this region yielding an extensive Holocene-aged deposit. Here, we report on the preliminary results from the ongoing excavations of Strathalan Cave A. Radiocarbon dates place the occupations between c. 5500 and 9000 yrs cal. BP with most occupations focused at around 7200 yrs cal. BP. Three allostratigraphic units were exposed in the deposit (A1, A2 and A3) with unit A2, the most anthropogenic unit, yielding combustion features and layers of bedding. The lithics are flake-dominated consisting mostly of hornfels but with a substantial CCS component showing little variation through time. A small quantity of ceramic fragments was recovered which may correspond to thin-walled LSA ceramics traditions, although at least one fragment may be associated with farming communities. The presence of rock art linked to the post-contact period also indicates that the cave was occupied from the early Holocene to the historic period. Grazers such as mountain reedbuck dominate the small faunal sample, but a range of browsing ungulates were also recorded. Bone tools were also noted. Of particular interest are a pestle, probably used to grind moist plant material, and a bone point, likely used for plant-based fibre processing. Plant remains were numerous, with charcoal analyses indicating an abundance of Protea and other grassland tree species. The phytolith data also show relatively high concentrations of phytoliths linked to trees in the deposit. The preliminary data indicate an environment of grassland interspersed with thicket, similar to today, with human occupations peaking between c.7000 and 8000 yrs cal. BP. We argue that depositional changes through the sequence may be linked to local-scale environmental shifts.