Thesis title: Decoding changes: technological and statistical investigation of the Middle Stone Age-Later Stone Age transition in the Horn of Africa
The transition from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) to the Later Stone Age (LSA) in East Africa is a highly complex topic that generates significant interest. Indeed, the archaeological record shows a technological shift characterised by the progressive decline of features typical of the MSA (such as the use of the Levallois method and the production of points) in favour of an increase in traits typical of the LSA (backed tools, increased production of blades and bladelets, frequent use of bipolar technique on anvil, and a rise in the presence of ornamental objects).
However, while these changes are evident in archaeological contexts of the MIS 4-3, the modes and tempos of these changes are not yet clear. In fact, while these aspects appear in some contexts at the beginning of the MIS 4, in others such as in Ethiopia, the appearance of the LSA is much more recent (late MIS 3). It is clear, therefore, that the dynamics related to this transition phenomenon vary at a regional level. Hence, this thesis focuses on the MSA-LSA transition in the Horn of Africa through a comparative analysis on two levels: a local examination consisting of the technological and statistical analysis of the lithic assemblages found in the Gotera area, dated to the MIS3 and located in southern Ethiopia; and a regional analysis, with the investigation of multiple contexts located in the Horn of Africa and parts of Kenya, aimed at evaluating this phenomenon at both small and large scales. The results of the archaeological analysis were then integrated with paleoclimatic and environmental data to assess the role of the environment in the MSA-LSA transition. From this study, the nuanced nature of the boundaries between the two techno-complexes MSA and LSA is confirmed, as well as the difficulty of developing a large-scale model with the available data. However, the correlation between lithic industries and paleoclimatic aspects has allowed for the formulation of new research hypotheses on adaptability to the environment and seasonal variations, as well as the behavioural response of our species at the end of the Pleistocene in East Africa.
Although explanations for the MSA-LSA transition are still challenging to unravel, especially due to several weaknesses in available data, it is likely that environmental factors were critically influential and acted as drivers for the observed changes. It is essential to remain persistent in testing these hypotheses through quantitative analysis and data integration.