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Ochre in hafting in Middle Stone Age southern Africa: a practical role

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2015

Lyn Wadley ,
Bonny Williamson  and
Marlize Lombard
Lyn Wadley
Affiliation:
Archaeology, School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, PO Wits 2050, South Africa (Email: wadleyl@geoarc.wits.ac.za)
Bonny Williamson
Affiliation:
Archaeology, School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, PO Wits 2050, South Africa
Marlize Lombard
Affiliation:
Archaeology, School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, PO Wits 2050, South Africa
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Abstract

Ochre is well-known as a substance used in Stone Age symbolism, but it can be shown to have had practical functions too. The authors used microscopic examination of Middle Stone Age tools to show they had been hafted, making use of an adhesive compound which included ochre in its recipe.

Keywords

South AfricaSibudu Caveochrehaftingmasticstone tools
Type
Method
Information
Antiquity , Volume 78 , Issue 301 , September 2004 , pp. 661 - 675
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd. 2004

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