Deciphering Middle Stone Age Technological Behaviors: An Analysis of the Lithic Technology from Level VI-B at Mumba, Tanzania

Afr Archaeol Rev https://doi.org/10.1007/s10437-024-09582-9 ORIGINAL ARTICLE Deciphering Middle Stone Age Technological Behaviors: An Analysis of the Lithic Technology from Level VI‑B at Mumba, Tanzania Irene Solano‑Megías Audax Z. P. Mabulla · José Manuel Maíllo‑Fernández · Accepted: 2 April 2024 © The Author(s) 2024 Abstract The Mumba rockshelter, located in the northwest of Lake Eyasi is key to understanding the Stone Age in East Africa. The stratigraphy of the site spans the last 130 ka BP and comprises levels from the Middle Stone Age, the Later Stone Age, the Pastoral Neolithic, and the Iron Age. In terms of the Middle Stone Age (MSA), Mumba has helped to define two lithic industries: Sanzako (130 ka BP) and Kisele (90–50 Ka BP) that characterize this technocomplex in northern Tanzania. The Sanzako industry was defined based on level VI-B at Mumba, which was excavated in 1938 by Köhl-Larssen. Here we Archaeological time period: Middle Stone Age. Country and region discussed: Northern Tanzania. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi. org/10.1007/s10437-024-09582-9. I. Solano‑Megías (*) Inter‑University Graduate School of Human Evolution, University of Burgos, Don Juan de Austria 1, 09001 Burgos, Spain e-mail: ; I. Solano‑Megías National Centre for Research On Human Evolution (CENIEH), Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca 3, 09002 Burgos, Spain present the study of the lithic assemblage excavated by Mehlman between 1977 and 1981. Mehlman subdivided this unit into three sublevels (Lower, Middle, and Upper), all of which remained unanalyzed and therefore, unpublished. The main features of the lithic assemblages found in the three sublevels are the presence of discoid, Levallois, and bipolar knapping methods. Additionally, the retouched tools are mainly sidescrapers, denticulates, and notches. This recent research enables us to understand the Sanzako industry in more detail, as well as its nature within the chronocultural framework of the MSA in northern Tanzania. Résumé L’abri sous roche de Mumba, situé au nordouest du lac Eyasi, est essentiel pour comprendre l’âge de pierre en Afrique de l’Est. La stratigraphie du site J. M. Maíllo‑Fernández Institute of Evolution in Africa (IDEA), University of Alcalá de Henares, Covarrubias 36, 28010 Madrid, Spain A. Z. P. Mabulla Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, University of Dar Es Salaam, P.O. Box 35050, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania J. M. Maíllo‑Fernández Dpt. Prehistory and Archaeology, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), Paseo Senda del Rey, 7, 28040 Madrid, Spain Vol.: (0123456789) 13 Afr Archaeol Rev s’étend sur les 130 derniers ka BP et comprend des niveaux du Paléolithique moyen, du Paléolithique supérieur, du Néolithique pastoral et de l’âge du fer. En ce qui concerne le Paléolithique moyen (MSA), Mumba a contribué à définir deux industries lithiques: Sanzako (130 ka BP) et Kisele (90-50 Ka BP) qui caractérisent ce techno-complexe dans le nord de la Tanzanie. L’industrie Sanzako a été définie sur la base du niveau VI-B à Mumba, qui a été fouillé en 1938 par Köhl-Larssen. Nous présentons ici l’étude de l’assemblage lithique fouillé par Mehlman entre 1977 et 1981. Mehlman a subdivisé cette unité en trois sous-niveaux (inférieur, moyen et supérieur), qui sont tous restés non analysés et donc inédits. Les principales caractéristiques des assemblages lithiques trouvés dans les trois sous-niveaux sont la présence de méthodes de taille discoïdes, Levallois et bipolaires. De plus, les outils retouchés sont principalement des racloirs latéraux, des denticulés et des encoches. Cette recherche récente nous permet de mieux comprendre l’industrie Sanzako, ainsi que sa nature dans le cadre chronoculturel du MSA dans le nord de la Tanzanie Keywords Middle Stone Age · Lithic technology · Lake Eyasi · Tanzania · East Africa MOTS‑CLÉS Middle stone age · Technologie lithique · Lac Eyasi · Tanzanie · Afrique de l’Est Introduction The Middle Stone Age (MSA) is the time period linked to the emergence of Homo sapiens. It is defined by the deliberate knapping of prepared cores, which exhibit certain characteristics derived from both the Early Stone Age (ESA) and the Later Stone Age (LSA) (Goodwin, 1929; Goodwin and Van Riet Lowe 1929). These two occurrences were not simultaneous given that the appearance of Homo sapiens sensu lato took place 400–350 ka BP, whereas the emergence of MSA industries in Africa has been documented in the 500–300 ka BP time period at various sites such as Olorgesailie (Kenya), Gademotta (Ethiopia), Kapthurin Formation (Kenya), Jebel Irhoud (Morocco) and the Victoria West sites in South Africa (Basell, 2013; Brooks et al., 2018; Clark, 1988; Deino et al., 2018; Hublin et al., 2017; Li et al., 2017; McBrearty Vol:. (1234567890) 13 & Brooks, 2000; Tryon & Faith, 2013; Tryon et al., 2005). The beginning of the MSA is also linked to the earliest evidence of modern behavior (McBrearty & Brooks, 2000; Henshilwood et al., 2002; D’Errico & Stringer, 2011; Marean, 2015). This chrono-cultural period is linked to the spread of Homo sapiens within and outside Africa. This can be viewed as a spatio-temporal mosaic process that ends with the configuration of Homo sapiens as a species (Scerri et al., 2018). In this context, Eastern Africa has played an important role in this process, both in terms of the fossil and the archaeological records. In the case of the former, as proved by the fossils of Omo I and II, of Herto, Ndutu, or the Gawis skull, among others (Day, 1969; Fleagle et al., 2008; White et al., 2003; Rightmire, 1983; Quade & Wynn, 2008). In the case of the latter, thanks to the large amount of MSA sites, which are essential to our understanding of certain technological behavioral patterns (Blinkhorn & Grove, 2021). According to Clark (1988), there is considerable variation in the MSA lithic assemblage in Eastern Africa, which is noted both spatially and temporally. Many authors have studied the origin of this technological variability, which can be explained in terms of site function (Collins & Willoughby, 2010; Maíllo-Fernández et al., 2019a, 2019b; Mehlman, 1989; Osypińska & Osypiński, 2016); raw material economy (Ambrose, 2012; Eren et al., 2014a; Tryon & Ranhorn, 2020); geographical and palaeoenvironmental factors (Basell, 2008; Douze & Delagnes, 2016; Stewart & Stringer, 2012); or cultural transmission linked to territorial proximity or not (Foley & Laht, 2011; Scerri et al., 2014; Creanza et al., 2017; Spinapolice, 2020). This is also the case for MSA lithic assemblage in northern Tanzania where we find a more diachronic — as opposed to simultaneous — seriation. The Njarasan industry (300–200 Ka) is the oldest, followed by the Ngaloba Beds industry (200–100 ka BP), the Sanzako (131.7 + 6.9 – 6 ka BP), and the Kisele (90–56 ka BP). The Kisele is contemporaneous with the Loiyangalanian industry (64 ka BP). The appearance of (...truncated)