Stone Age Tools Found in Central African Cave Were Remarkably Stable for 5,000 Years
New research shows that stone tool production in the central African rainforest has remained remarkably constant for more than 5,000 years. Although the results suggest considerable similarity over time, the study highlights the technical and cultural diversity present in the region as a whole during the Late Stone Age.
Lead author Marie-Josée Angue Zogo, a doctoral student in African prehistory and lithic technology at the National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, said the findings “significantly refine” our understanding of the Later Stone Age and “highlight the extent of the techno-cultural diversity that characterized this period.”
The results were published in the journal Plos One.
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Stone Age Material
The article follows excavations at Pahan Cave in western Gabon, which uncovered hundreds of lithic (stone) objects, including debris, fragments and natural pieces.
Pahan Cave is located in the Ogooué Basin, an area covered in lush rainforest that is home to gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants and other large mammals. The cave also appears to have been a source of shelter for nomadic groups living in the area between 7,571 and 2,523 years ago, a prolonged period spanning the Late Stone Age and Early Iron Age.
This period included a “Neolithic phase”, characterized by polished stone tools and the advent of agriculture, and marked the start of Bantu expansion, which dispersed Bantu peoples and languages across the region.
During this time, humans employed various subsistence strategies. This included metalworking and pottery making. However, the tools discovered in Pahun Cave appear simple and unmodified – exhibiting “highly flexible technical systems,” the researchers wrote in the study.
A hammer, an ax and some trash
In total, the team discovered 1,131 lithic objects, around 90% of which are considered waste. The artifacts include a striker – a stone used to mark other stones, the Neolithic equivalent of a hammer – and a fragment of a polished axe. However, what stands out is the relative similarity of the objects over such a long period of time. This suggests that the same type of products had been made for over 5,000 years.
“One of the most important results of this study is the remarkable stability of the lithic industry of Pahon Cave over several millennia,” said Angue Zogo. “This is a non-standardized industry, characterized by a short operational sequence and a high proportion of unretouched flakes showing obvious wear. »
This contrasts with collections found at other important archaeological sites, such as Shum Laka in northwest Cameroon, which features Late Stone Age quartz and basalt tools as well as ceramics and iron objects. Overall, the researchers say the findings reinforce the idea that the era was marked by great diversity in terms of tool production.
Stone Age Animal Bones
Stone objects were not the only treasures found in Pahan Cave. Archaeologists also discovered the well-preserved remains of various animals, including a brush-tailed porcupine, a bush hog and a small antelope called a duiker.
The most prolific animal remains belong to various species of bats, most of which died of natural causes. On the other hand, small mammals and giant snails may have been brought into the cave for human consumption.
As for next steps, Angue Zogo and the team plan to resume excavations in Pahan Cave and study lithic collections from other Central African countries.
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