Results of a preliminary palynological analysis at Sibudu Cave

Authors

  • R. Renaut University of the Witwatersrand
  • M. K. Bamford University of the Witwatersrand

Abstract

Sediment samples excavated from 15 Middle Stone Age lithological horizons within Sibudu Cave (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa) contain organic material, but only eight samples yielded identifiable pollen grains. The diversity and quantities of palynomorphs are low and this limits potential palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Identified taxa do, however, support other proxy environmental data for Oxygen Isotope Stage 3. The low quantities and limited diversity of pollen and spores found in the sediments are likely to be the result of destruction from the fires made by people living in the shelter at ~60 ka and ~50 ka.

To cite this paper: Renaut, R. & Bamford, M. K. 2006. Results of a preliminary palynological analysis at Sibudu Cave. Southern African Humanities 18 (1): 235-40.

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Published

2021-02-05

How to Cite

Renaut, R., & Bamford, M. K. (2021). Results of a preliminary palynological analysis at Sibudu Cave. Southern African Humanities, 18(1), 235–40. Retrieved from https://sahumanities.org/index.php/sah/article/view/308

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 1 (2006): Middle Stone Age research at Sibudu Cave

Section

Articles