The Significance of Surface Scatters on the Mapungubwe Landscape, South Africa

New evidence demonstrates a difference between forager lithics at shelters and open air sites on the Mapungubwe landscape, northern South Africa. This paper examines the relationship between these two contexts. A field survey was conducted with the goal of identifying and studying the surface lithics of as many Later Stone Age lithic scatters as possible. In comparing the surface lithics with those from five excavated and dated rock shelters, the study highlights the discontinuities and various land use patterns in the forager record of the Mapungubwe landscape. It is suggested that by ignoring open air sites we miss a significant aspect of the forager occupation sequence.