Blombos Cave - Artifacts and Fauna

Artifacts and Fauna

Principal markers of the M1 phase are bifacial foliate points, typical of the Stillbay, both complete and in various stages of manufacture. More than 400 have been recovered. Silcrete is the dominant raw material and the nearest source is circa 30 kilometres (19 mi). Large numbers of small flakes occur indicating on-site production of these artifacts. Some of the points show fractures which were interpreted as the result of their use as spear points. According to an experimental study of the points, shaping of the points could have been achieved through pressure flaking, a technique that was previously believed to appear first in Europe 20,000 years ago as part of the Solutrean toolkit.

More than 60 beads manufactured from Nassarius kraussianus gastropod shells have been recovered. Twenty-seven of these beads may derive from a single personal ornament. Two chunks of ochre engraved with geometric patterns and more than 15 bone tools come from the M1 phase. M2 phase markers are the more than 20 bone tools and a marked reduction in bifacial technology. In the M3 phase, bifacial flaking and bone tools disappear. Silcrete is still dominant, but there are fewer retouched tools. Striated ochre, particularly in large chunk form, is common in these levels. Ochre processing tools include lower and upper grindstones and hammerstones. Dense shellfish middens characterize the lower layers with very large hearths.

Faunal remains from the three MSA phases show that a wide range of terrestrial resources were exploited. More than a thousand fish bones, many from large fish, marine shells, seals and dolphins,attest to extensive exploitation of aquatic resources and suggest exploitation patterns not dissimilar to those of LSA people in this region. Nine human teeth, mostly deciduous, have been recovered from the MSA levels, but no other human skeletal material. The teeth probably derive from fairly gracile individuals and are similar to samples recovered at Klasies River Caves and De Kelders.