THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF STERKFONTEIN - PRELIMINARY FINDINGS ON SITE FORMATION AND CULTURAL-CHANGE

New research since 1992 on Member 5 at Sterkfontein has clarified the archaeology of this early hominid site. A well-preserved Oldowan indus try estimated at 1.7-2.0 Myr is present in the lowest excavated levels . Stone tools accumulated here as a result of repeated visits by homin ids to an open site favoured for its shelter and for nearby gravels us ed for tool-making. Two Early Acheulean assemblages followed this infi ll, but both are locally contaminated with Middle Stone Age material w hich has filtered into the member through solution pockets from the su rface. The underlying Oldowan is characterized by simple tool-manufact uring methods with an emphasis on the more easily flaked raw materials . By contrast, the Acheulean shows a better handling of the less tract able rock types, as well as an increase in manuports and large cores. The Acheulean occupation reflects more intensive transport of stone to the site at a time when local river downcutting may have increased th e distance to exploited gravels.