Dating human occupations and reconstructing the palaeoenvironment in the Middle Stone Age, southern Cape, South Africa

We present a research, networking and training programme centered on the archaeology of the Middle Stone Age (MSA) in the southern Cape region of South Africa. We believe this research will contribute significantly to present knowledge of the MSA in this region and enable fine tuning of current dates for the Still Bay and earlier MSA deposits both at Blombos Cave and for selected caves in De Hoop Nature Reserve. Isotope analysis and uranium series dates of speleothems and flowstones will help refine curre nt understanding of the climate and sea levels during these occupations. The project will provide excellent training in excavation techniques, artefact analysis, dating methods and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction for South African and Norwegian student s at graduate, Masters and Ph. D level.