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5 - A Cognitive Revolution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2024

Peter Mitchell
Affiliation:
St. Hugh's College, Oxford University
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Summary

This chapter looks at the profound advances made over the past two decades or so in our understanding of modern human origins, of how humans lived in southern Africa during Marine Isotope Stages 6−4, and of their cognitive capacities. While genetics and palaeontology cannot establish a central role for southern Africa in H. sapiens’ emergence, the region provides the most detailed early evidence anywhere for a wide range of complex behaviours that speak to the cognitive abilities of those responsible for them: art, jewellery, bone tools, archery, pigment manufacture, pyrotechnology, snaring and trapping of small game, etc. Much of this material is associated with the Still Bay and Howiesons Poort industries and the significance of this is discussed along with how southern Africa’s record relates to the wider Palaeolithic context in Africa and Eurasia. While underlining the importance of sites like Blombos, Border Cave, Klasies River, Pinnacle Point, and Sibhudu, the chapter emphasises the limitations of (near-)coastal/Fynbos Biome-oriented research and the increasing importance of fieldwork in other regions, such as Namaqualand, the southern Kalahari, and highland Lesotho.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • A Cognitive Revolution
  • Peter Mitchell, St. Hugh's College, Oxford University
  • Book: The Archaeology of Southern Africa
  • Online publication: 15 May 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009324724.005
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  • A Cognitive Revolution
  • Peter Mitchell, St. Hugh's College, Oxford University
  • Book: The Archaeology of Southern Africa
  • Online publication: 15 May 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009324724.005
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • A Cognitive Revolution
  • Peter Mitchell, St. Hugh's College, Oxford University
  • Book: The Archaeology of Southern Africa
  • Online publication: 15 May 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009324724.005
Available formats
×