Sangoan

Abstract: Sangoan artifacts have been reported to overlie those of the Acheulian and to underlie those of the Middle Stone Age in a wide region of tropical Africa. Few detailed field studies have been undertaken, however, with the result that this important transition is poorly understood. At the Muguruk site in western Kenya, artifacts of the Ojolla industry (Sangoan‐Lupemban) are overlain by those of the Pundo Makwar Industry (Middle Stone Age). The Ojolla industry contains a heavy duty tool component, finely made lanceolate points, and a light duty component made up bifacially retouched flake tools. Flake production is by radial core reduction. The Pundo Makwar industry is composed primarily of flaking debris from radial core reduction and informal unifacial scrapers made on these flakes. The Muguruk sequence shows a pronounced shift in formal tool retouch techniques between the Sangoan‐Lupemban and the Middle Stone Age, but real continuity in the method of flake production.

Abstract: This paper reviews data on technological change in the manufacture of stone tools from the Earlier Stone Age (ESA) to Middle Stone Age (MSA including Sangoan) deposits at Site A, Kalambo Falls, Zambia. Data on flake and tool morphology, dimensions, and raw material are discussed It is concluded that there is little change, at this site, in the basic techniques of blank production or the attributes of the blanks produced from the ESA to the MSA. The only marked change to occur is the loss of large cutting tools (hand axes, cleavers) and their replacement by heavy-duty forms (core axes, picks). It is hypothesized that this change marks a decline in portability as a factor in the design of large edge tools.