Analysis of a Jun/Wasi Nut Cracking Stone from Western Ngamiland, Botswana: Implications for the Origins of Hominin Technology

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2021: General Sessions" session, at the 86th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

A nut cracking stone collected from a 1960s dry season occupation site at Dobe (Western Ngamiland, Botswana) shows not only evidence of cracking and pounding of mongongo nuts and other uses, but also repetitive flaking around the periphery. This flaking is reminiscent of the putative anvil stones from Lomekwi, Kenya (~3.3 Ma) and reinforces the idea that pounding technology is the origin of hominin stone use and tool production. Mongongo nuts were a major source of fat and protein in the Jun/wasi diet but the stones needed to crack them did not occur anywhere in the immediate vicinity of the mongongo groves or of the Dobe camp. The nearest sources are 14–30 km distant, so such stones had to be carried to the grove area and moved as needed. Since stone flaking was not part of Jun/wasi technology in the twentieth or late nineteenth century (according to elderly informants), we argue that the flaking is an unintended byproduct of its use as an anvil for nut cracking. Here we present an analysis of the flaking pattern and use wear present on the stone as possible indicators for distinguishing deliberate flaking from pounding technology in the early hominin record.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 86th Annual Meeting, Online (2021)   •
• SAA 2021: General Sessions

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 33574