| dc.description.abstract | The thesis examines patterns in hunter-gatherer exploitation
strategies and associated material remains in Southern Natal, South Africa,
during the last 3-4,000 years. Chapter 1 sets out the theoretical basis
of the work and its general aims and objectives; the research aims both to
extend our knowledge of the poorly-known Late Stone Age of Natal, and to
model prehistoric exploitation patterns in the research area.
Chapter 2 describes the geology, geomorphology, soils, climate and
vegetation of Southern Natal and establishes the environmental constraints
and opportunities affecting prehistoric populations. Chapter 3 focuses
on the natural resources available to hunter-gatherers, and patterns in
the distribution and abundance of resources through time and space are
identified and discussed. Chapter 4 describes and evaluates the history
of archaeological work on the Natal Late Stone Age. The Chapter then
summarises the history of contact with the San hunter-gatherers of both
Iron Age farmers and white settlers. Ethnographic observations are
reported and the final section describes relevant rock art research from
Natal.
Field-work undertaken between 1978 and 1981 is described in Chapter
5. Two sites were excavated while surface collections of stone artefacts
were made at a further four sites. This Chapter, and Chapter 6 which
summarises relevant recent publications on Natal sites, provide the database
for the modelling of exploitation patterns. Chapter 7 describes and
evaluates patterns and correlations in archaeological data from Southern
Natal. It is argued that assemblage variability reflects scheduling in
resource exploitation strategies in different ecological zones of the
research area.
Chapter 8 presents a model of Late Stone Age exploitation patterns in
Southern Natal. The data-base of the model is assessed and directions for
further testing are identified. The final Chapter provides an overview of
the Late Stone Age archaeology of the research area in the context both of
Natal as a whole and of Southern Africa. Appendices include analyses of
assemblage variability, a table of radiocarbon dates and a check-list of
over 100 species of indigenous edible plants and their availability in
southern Natal. A relevant recent publication is included in the back
pocket. The thesis includes 19 Plates, 35 Figures and 59 | en |
