STONE AGE ARCHAEOLOGY AND QUATERNARY LANDSCAPES IN SOUTHERN MOZAMBIQUE

In the past two field seasons, our research team has conducted archaeological survey to study the evolution of modern human behavior in southern Mozambique. Here we report preliminary results from Massingir (Gaza Province) and Vilankulos (Inhambane Province). In 2015, the project team surveyed Quaternary deposits near Massingir, documenting dozens of new MSA sites in the Elephant River valley. This added a significant amount to the database of known Stone Age sites. In addition, this survey discovered several new rockshelters with high potential for Stone Age occupations. The Vilankulos survey area contains a wide range of Quaternary deposits including Pleistocene eolian red sands, fluvio-marine deposits, ancient beach and calcareous lacustrine deposits that have high potential for Stone Age archaeology. We use a stratified survey strategy to specifically target extant Quaternary landscapes. At the regional scale the survey covers major landforms including the coastal bluffs, Pleistocene dunefields, fluvial terraces and limestone uplands with caves, shelters and stone raw material sources.