Full metadata
Title
The role of ochre in the development of modern human behavior: a case study from South Africa
Description
In recent years, southern Africa has figured prominently in the modern human origins debate due to increasing evidence for precocious behaviors considered to be unique to our species. These significant findings have included bone tools, shell beads, engraved ostrich eggshell, and heavily ground and engraved ochre fragments. The presence of ochre in Middle Stone Age (MSA, ~250-40kya) archaeological sites in southern Africa is often proposed as indirect evidence for the emergence of symbolic or artistic behavior, a uniquely modern human trait. However, there is no remaining artwork from this period and there is significant debate about what the ochre may have been used for. With a few exceptions, ochre has gone largely unstudied. This project tested competing models for ochre use within the Pinnacle Point (PP), South Africa research area. Combined results from characterization and sourcing analyses, color classification, heat treatment analysis, and hafting experiments suggest MSA ochre is tied to early symbolic or ritual behavior.
Date Created
2012
Contributors
- Bernatchez, Jocelyn A (Author)
- Marean, Curtis W (Thesis advisor)
- Bearat, Hamdallah (Committee member)
- Abbott, David (Committee member)
- Arizona State University (Publisher)
Topical Subject
Resource Type
Extent
xlv, 762 p. : ill. (some col.), maps
Language
eng
Copyright Statement
In Copyright
Primary Member of
Peer-reviewed
No
Open Access
No
Handle
https://hdl.handle.net/2286/R.I.15111
Statement of Responsibility
by Jocelyn A. Bernatchez
Description Source
Retrieved on July 17, 2013
Level of coding
full
Note
thesis
Partial requirement for: Ph.D., Arizona State University, 2012
bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (p. 404-426)
Field of study: Anthropology
System Created
- 2012-08-24 06:30:05
System Modified
- 2021-08-30 01:45:35
- 3 years 2 months ago
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