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The Howiesons Poort at Klasies River : from artefacts to cognition
Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1997.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2012
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| _version_ | 1867614102030909440 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Wurz, Sarah (Sarah Jacoba Deborah) |
| author2 | Deacon, H. J. |
| author_browse | Deacon, H. J. Wurz, Sarah (Sarah Jacoba Deborah) |
| author_facet | Deacon, H. J. Wurz, Sarah (Sarah Jacoba Deborah) |
| author_sort | Wurz, Sarah (Sarah Jacoba Deborah) |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1997. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/55721 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:41.344Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publishDateRange | 2012 |
| publishDateSort | 2012 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/55721 The Howiesons Poort at Klasies River : from artefacts to cognition Wurz, Sarah (Sarah Jacoba Deborah) Deacon, H. J. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies. Klasies River Site (South Africa) South Africa -- Antiquities Dissertations -- Archaeology Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1997. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Two samples of artefacts from the Howiesons Poort levels of the Upper member of the Klasies River main site were studied. One sample came from the top cutting of 1967-8 excavation by Singer & Wymer in cave 1A. The other sample was collected in 1995 from the surface of cave 2. The levels date to some 70 000 years ago and the samples include over 500 characteristic Howiesons Poort backed artefacts. A chaȋne opératoire approach was used in the study and this focuses on the succession of choices of the artefact makers. It could be established that in making the Howiesons Poort artefacts raw materials were selected, techniques to produce thin blade blanks were adopted, right sized blades were chosen for retouching and the end product, the backed artefacts, were standardised in form. It is concluded that casual artefacts apart, the main goal of the artefact makers was the production of backed artefacts. The inference drawn is that the process of manufacture of backed artefacts in the Howiesons Poort is a reflection of active style, a conscious attempt to communicate through the choices made. Active style is equated with symbolism. In this time range the evidence in the stone artefacts and in the associated occurrence of ochre, for the use of symbols, is significant because symbolism can be linked to language and modem cognition. The emergence of the modem mind is conventionally associated with the appearance of the Upper Palaeolithic 40 000 years ago in Europe. This perception is questioned by these results. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie is uitgevoer op twee monsters geneem vanuit die Howiesons Poort lae van "Upper member" by Klasies Rivier hoof vindplaas. Een van die monsters is geneem vanaf die "top cutting" van 'n uitgrawing wat tydens 1967-8 deur Singer & Wymer gedoen is. Die ander monster is in 1995 versamel vanaf die oppervlak van grot 2. Die monster bestaan uit meer as 500 kenmerkende Howiesons Poort artefakte en die genoemde lae dateer tot ongeveer 70 000 jaar gelede. Die chaȋne opératoire benadering is in hierdie studie gevolg. Hierdie benadering fokus op die stapsgewyse keuses wat in die vervaardiging van die artefakte gemaak is. In die vervaardigingsproses is dit duidelik dat daar seleksie van roumateriaal was, dat die vervaardigingstegniek aangepas is om dun lemme te produseer en dat lemme van 'n spesifieke grootte gekies is vir verdere herafwerking om 'n gestandaardiseerde eindproduk, rugafgewerkte artefakte te vervaardig. Vervaardigings aktwiteit in die Howiesons Poort was gerig daarop om rugafgewerke artefakte te vervaardig. Deur materiaal en tegniek te selekteer vir die aspek van die Howiesons Poort, word aktiewe styl, of kommunikasie geimpliseer. Aktiewe styl word gelykgestel aan simbolisme. Simbolisme is 'n aanduiding van taal en moderne kognisie, en daarom is dit insiggewend dat die artefakte en geassosieerde gebruik van oker in die Howiesons Poort dui op simbolisme. Moderne kognisie word konvensioneel geassosieer met die verskyning van die Bo Paleolitikum 40 000 jaar gelede in Europe. Hierdie aanname word bevraagteken deur die resultate van die tesis. Masters 2012-08-27T11:37:12Z 2012-08-27T11:37:12Z 1997 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/55721 en_ZA Stellenbosch University 144 pages : ill. application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Klasies River Site (South Africa) South Africa -- Antiquities Dissertations -- Archaeology Wurz, Sarah (Sarah Jacoba Deborah) The Howiesons Poort at Klasies River : from artefacts to cognition |
| title | The Howiesons Poort at Klasies River : from artefacts to cognition |
| title_full | The Howiesons Poort at Klasies River : from artefacts to cognition |
| title_fullStr | The Howiesons Poort at Klasies River : from artefacts to cognition |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Howiesons Poort at Klasies River : from artefacts to cognition |
| title_short | The Howiesons Poort at Klasies River : from artefacts to cognition |
| title_sort | howiesons poort at klasies river from artefacts to cognition |
| topic | Klasies River Site (South Africa) South Africa -- Antiquities Dissertations -- Archaeology |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/55721 |
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