Archaeomagnetic evidence for climate change at Sibudu Cave

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Publication Date

November 2006

Abstract

In situ magnetic susceptibility (MS) measurements were undertaken on the north, south and east section walls of the trial trench in Sibudu Cave, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. All three sections show similar down-section variations in MS. Laboratory-based mineral magnetic measurements on sub-samples identified two major mineral magnetic zones (MMZB and MMZA). MMZB consists of coarser rained ferrimagnetic minerals and a larger proportion of anti-ferromagnetic haematite from spalling of the sandstone rock shelter during the arid, cold conditions of Oxygen Isotope Stage 4 (OIS 4). MMZA, which incorporates all layers from P1 (~60 ka) to BSV and BSS (~1100 AD), is dominated by fine- to ultra-fine-grained ferrimagnetic minerals (magnetite and maghaemite) that reflect the input of derived soils by aeolian activity. MMZA can be divided into three broad Climatic Zones (CZ3, CZ2 and CZ1) that reflect changes in the concentration of ferrimagnetic minerals during three age clusters. These are ~60 ka in OIS 4 and ~50 ka in OIS 3 and ~1100 AD in OIS 1. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating of the Middle Stone Age (MSA) sequence suggests hiatuses between the age clusters. Small-scale oscillations of MS in the sequence are thought to be due to varying amounts of intermixed anthropogenic material from hearths. Burnt material is identifiable by a unique mineral magnetic signature similar to that of burnt material from other archaeological sites in South Africa, but unlike that in other areas of the world. This is due to the long-term weathering and natural burning of the South African landscape. The transitional layers between OIS 4 (MMZB) and OIS 3 (MMZA) are associated with gypsum nodule formation that was probably post-depositional. It may have occurred during moister periods of climatic warming when no deposition took place in the Sibudu profile.

Document Type

Article

Identifier

SFS0046402_00001

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