TY - JOUR
T1 - By the lakeshore
T2 - Multi-scalar geoarchaeology in the Turkana Basin at GaJj17, Koobi Fora (Kenya)
AU - Ranhorn, Kathryn L.
AU - Mavuso, Silindokuhle S.
AU - Colarossi, Debra
AU - Dogandžić, Tamara
AU - O'Brien, Kaedan
AU - Ribordy, Mathilde
AU - Ssebuyungo, Christopher
AU - Warren, Shannon
AU - Harris, John W.K.
AU - Braun, David R.
AU - Ndiema, Emmanuel
N1 - Funding Information:
We are deeply indebted to Alison Kelly whose meticulous documentation enabled this work to be conducted and we dedicate this paper to her memory. Peter Onyango, David Kipkebut, and Ben Sila were instrumental in the re-excavation of GaJj17. We thank the Koobi Fora Research and Training Program (KFRTP) and the National Museums of Kenya for providing the logistical support needed to make this field research possible. Bridget Murray, Chloe Daniel, Logan Van Hagen, Courtney Jirsa, Ella Beaudoin, and Michael Ziegler all assisted in the excavation of GaJj17. Jonathan Reeves provided valuable assistance with aerial imagery. The OSL samples were prepared by Katharina Schilling. Research was conducted with NACOSTI research clearance and was funded by NSF International Research Experience ( OISE 1358178 and 1358200 ) and NSF Archaeology (BCS 1624398). TD and DC thank Max Planck Gesellschaft and Jean-Jacques Hublin for supporting their research. KR is grateful to Christian Tryon for support during the initial write up of this work. We also thank the Palaeontological Scientific Trust (PAST), DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences (GENUS), Harvard University Department of Anthropology , the Turkana Basin Institute , the Leakey Foundation and the Wenner-Gren Foundation for generous funding of this research.
Funding Information:
We are deeply indebted to Alison Kelly whose meticulous documentation enabled this work to be conducted and we dedicate this paper to her memory. Peter Onyango, David Kipkebut, and Ben Sila were instrumental in the re-excavation of GaJj17. We thank the Koobi Fora Research and Training Program (KFRTP) and the National Museums of Kenya for providing the logistical support needed to make this field research possible. Bridget Murray, Chloe Daniel, Logan Van Hagen, Courtney Jirsa, Ella Beaudoin, and Michael Ziegler all assisted in the excavation of GaJj17. Jonathan Reeves provided valuable assistance with aerial imagery. The OSL samples were prepared by Katharina Schilling. Research was conducted with NACOSTI research clearance and was funded by NSF International Research Experience (OISE 1358178 and 1358200) and NSF Archaeology (BCS 1624398). TD and DC thank Max Planck Gesellschaft and Jean-Jacques Hublin for supporting their research. KR is grateful to Christian Tryon for support during the initial write up of this work. We also thank the Palaeontological Scientific Trust (PAST), DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences (GENUS), Harvard University Department of Anthropology, the Turkana Basin Institute, the Leakey Foundation and the Wenner-Gren Foundation for generous funding of this research.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)
PY - 2023/10/1
Y1 - 2023/10/1
N2 - The Late Pleistocene archaeological record in the Turkana Basin is important for studying Homo sapiens evolution, but the record in this region is poorly documented, despite a long history of significant paleoanthropological discoveries. Ambiguity around ages and site formation processes are paramount problems. We investigated the chronometric, geological, archaeological, and paleoenvironmental context of GaJj17, a locality with an artifact-bearing deposit in the Koobi Fora region. Sedimentological facies analysis coupled with micromorphological evidence indicate the depositional environment at the site changed over time from a fluvial system to an aeolian one, forming the remnant lunate feature seen today. Caliche caps the site and likely mitigated erosion of the site during high lake stands; similar deposits (∼25 m2) are found within a 2 km radius and are archaeologically sterile. Optically stimulated luminescence dating indicates the deposit and associated artifacts and fossils were emplaced circa 52–43 thousand years ago. Small (average length ∼ 3.5 cm) flakes dominate the stone artifact assemblage and include unretouched triangular flakes on diverse raw materials indicating shared affinity with Middle and Late Pleistocene lithic toolkits elsewhere in eastern Africa. Hippopotamus, crocodiles, and fish are well-represented in the faunal assemblage, along with a small sample of terrestrial ungulate specimens. More taphonomic research to understand the accumulating agent(s) of the faunal assemblages is needed. These results contribute to our understanding of Late Pleistocene archaeological site formation processes in lacustrine contexts of the Omo-Turkana Basin.
AB - The Late Pleistocene archaeological record in the Turkana Basin is important for studying Homo sapiens evolution, but the record in this region is poorly documented, despite a long history of significant paleoanthropological discoveries. Ambiguity around ages and site formation processes are paramount problems. We investigated the chronometric, geological, archaeological, and paleoenvironmental context of GaJj17, a locality with an artifact-bearing deposit in the Koobi Fora region. Sedimentological facies analysis coupled with micromorphological evidence indicate the depositional environment at the site changed over time from a fluvial system to an aeolian one, forming the remnant lunate feature seen today. Caliche caps the site and likely mitigated erosion of the site during high lake stands; similar deposits (∼25 m2) are found within a 2 km radius and are archaeologically sterile. Optically stimulated luminescence dating indicates the deposit and associated artifacts and fossils were emplaced circa 52–43 thousand years ago. Small (average length ∼ 3.5 cm) flakes dominate the stone artifact assemblage and include unretouched triangular flakes on diverse raw materials indicating shared affinity with Middle and Late Pleistocene lithic toolkits elsewhere in eastern Africa. Hippopotamus, crocodiles, and fish are well-represented in the faunal assemblage, along with a small sample of terrestrial ungulate specimens. More taphonomic research to understand the accumulating agent(s) of the faunal assemblages is needed. These results contribute to our understanding of Late Pleistocene archaeological site formation processes in lacustrine contexts of the Omo-Turkana Basin.
KW - Africa
KW - Archaeology
KW - Optically stimulated luminescence
KW - Paleoenvironment
KW - Quaternary
KW - Site formation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85172272376&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85172272376&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.quascirev.2023.108257
DO - 10.1016/j.quascirev.2023.108257
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85172272376
SN - 0277-3791
VL - 317
JO - Quaternary Science Reviews
JF - Quaternary Science Reviews
M1 - 108257
ER -