Mossel Bay Archaeology Project
Description
The Mossel Bay Archaeology Project (MAP), led by Curtis W. Marean (ASU) and
Peter Nilssen (Iziko South African Museums), is a long-term field study of the Middle Stone
Age (MSA) in the Mossel Bay region. The MSA in South Africa has gained increasing attention
due to the discovery of bone tools at Blombos Cave, the abundance of ochre suggesting
artistic expression, the presence of a variety of lithic assemblages with advanced
technological characteristics, and debates over the interpretation of the fauna.
Linked to these findings are debates over the antiquity of modern human behavior, with
some researchers arguing that the South African evidence suggests an early origin of modern
behavior, while others suggest a late origin. Resolution of these debates relies on two
advances: improvements in our theoretical approach, and an improvement of the empirical
record in Africa. We initiated fieldwork at Mossel Bay on the southern coast of the Cape to
address the latter deficiency.
C. W. Marean, P. J. Nilssen, K. Brown, A. Jerardino, and D. Stynder. (2004)
"Paleoanthropological investigations of Middle Stone Age sites at Pinnacle Point,
Mossel Bay (South Africa): Archaeology and hominid remains from the 2000 Field
Season" Journal of Paleoanthropology 2: 14-83.
C. Henshilwood and C.W. Marean (2003)
"The origin of modern human behavior: A review and critique of the models and their
test implications." Current Anthropology 44:627-651.
P.J. Nilssen and C.W.Marean (2002)
"Background and results from test excavations of Middle Stone Age sites at Pinnacle
Point, Mossel Bay". Quaternary Research Centre Newsletter 10: 1-2.
Presentations and Events
Invited Speaker C. W. Marean (2003)
"Pinnacle Point at Mossel Bay, South Africa: Recent Field Investigations at a New
Hominid and Middle Stone Age Locality." University of Cape Town Archaeology
Lecture Series, 11 November.
C. W. Marean, P. Nilssen, A. Jerardino and D. Stynder (2002)
"Pinnacle Point at Mossel Bay, South Africa: Recent Field Investigations at a New
Hominid and Middle Stone Age Locality." 16th Biennial Conference of Africanist
Archaeologists, University of Arizona, May 18-24, 2002.
C. W. Marean, P. Nilssen, A. Jerardino and D. Stynder (2002)
"Pinnacle Point at Mossel Bay, South Africa: Recent Field Investigations at a New
Hominid and Middle Stone Age Locality." Annual Meeting of the Paleoanthropology
Society, Denver, March 27-28.
- Curtis Marean, Principal Investigator, SHESC
- Peter Nilssen, Principal Investigator, Iziko South African Museum
- Erin Lassiter
- Jocelyn Bernatchez
- Lydia Pyne
- Jessica Thompson
National Science Foundation - $242,000 current
Hyse Family Trust - $50,000
Iziko South African Museum
University of Cape Town
Dias Museum of Mossel Bay