Thriving in the Thirstland: New Stone Age sites from the Middle Kalahari, Botswana

Sheila Coulson, Sigrid Staurset, Sarah Mothulatshipi, Sallie Burrough, David Nash, David Thomas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This paper documents the abundance of Stone Age finds in the Middle Kalahari, both through earlier publications and newly documented sites. Results of several decades of Stone Age research are presented through a variety of projects and placed within the context of previous archaeological investigations in the region. We argue for the importance of open-air sites in constructing a more representative picture of prehistoric behaviour in the interior of southern Africa.
Original languageEnglish
Article number107695
Number of pages15
JournalQuaternary Science Reviews
Volume297
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Oct 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The University of Oxford-led Landscape Archaeology of the Kalahari project (2016–2018) investigations were carried out under research permit EWT 8/36/4 XXXV (9), issued April 22, 2016 by the Botswana Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism (ref EWT 8/36/4 XXXV (52)). This was extended on June 29, 2018 by the Botswana Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism (ref ENT 8/36/4 XXXXII (43)). This interdisciplinary project was funded by the Leverhulme Trust . Additional funding and aid were gratefully received from the University of Oxford , the University of Brighton , the University of Botswana , the University of Oslo and Norsk Arkeologisk Selskap .

Funding Information:
The University of Tromsø and the University of Botswana Collaborative Program for San/Basarwa Research and Capacity Building (1999–2006) was undertaken with permit OP 46/1 XCVI (86) issued June 12, 2002 by the Office of the President for period 2002–2007. This was extended in July 2007 for an additional year by the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture. This project was funded by the Norwegian Programme for Development, Research and Education ( NUFU PRO 20/96 ) as well as the History Department of the University of Botswana and the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Oslo , which supplied financial backing, particularly to facilitate student participation in this project.

Funding Information:
The University of Brighton-led Kalahari Silcrete Provenancing Project (2011) obtained a Government of Botswana research permit EWT 8/36/4 XV (25) with extension EWT 8/36/4 XXI (36). This project was funded by a University of Brighton ‘Research Challenges Award’ with additional travel support from the University of Oslo.

Funding Information:
The University of Tromsø and the University of Botswana Collaborative Program for San/Basarwa Research and Capacity Building (1999–2006) was undertaken with permit OP 46/1 XCVI (86) issued June 12, 2002 by the Office of the President for period 2002–2007. This was extended in July 2007 for an additional year by the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture. This project was funded by the Norwegian Programme for Development, Research and Education (NUFU PRO 20/96) as well as the History Department of the University of Botswana and the Faculty of Humanities of the University of Oslo, which supplied financial backing, particularly to facilitate student participation in this project.The University of Brighton-led Kalahari Silcrete Provenancing Project (2011) obtained a Government of Botswana research permit EWT 8/36/4 XV (25) with extension EWT 8/36/4 XXI (36). This project was funded by a University of Brighton ‘Research Challenges Award’ with additional travel support from the University of Oslo.The University of Oxford-led Landscape Archaeology of the Kalahari project (2016–2018) investigations were carried out under research permit EWT 8/36/4 XXXV (9), issued April 22, 2016 by the Botswana Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism (ref EWT 8/36/4 XXXV (52)). This was extended on June 29, 2018 by the Botswana Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, Conservation and Tourism (ref ENT 8/36/4 XXXXII (43)). This interdisciplinary project was funded by the Leverhulme Trust. Additional funding and aid were gratefully received from the University of Oxford, the University of Brighton, the University of Botswana, the University of Oslo and Norsk Arkeologisk Selskap.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 University of Oslo, Universitet i Oslo

Keywords

  • Early Stone Age
  • Middle Stone Age
  • Late Stone Age
  • Iron Age/pastoralist
  • open-air sites
  • landscape archaeology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Thriving in the Thirstland: New Stone Age sites from the Middle Kalahari, Botswana'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this