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Facing the palimpsest conundrum: an archaeo-stratigraphic approach to the intra-site analysis of SHK Extension (Bed II, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania)

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Abstract

In recent years, a “high-resolution” archaeological approach is being successfully applied in a number of Paleolithic intra-site spatial analyses. This perspective encompasses the integration of data provided by a number of sources (such as soil micro-morphology, archaeo-stratigraphy, site formation studies, or lithic conjoining) in order to identify minimal behavioral entities in archaeological palimpsests. To date, this type of approach has been applied to African ESA contexts only cursorily. Here, we present the results of our methodological effort in order to make progress towards meeting some of the basic standards of current high-resolution approaches in the East African ESA record, revolving around the concept of synchronicity. This approach has been applied to the newly discovered site of SHK Extension, adjacent to and pene-contemporaneous with the classical SHK Main site (Olduvai Gorge), where a total area of 30 m2 has been unearthed. By a detailed archaeo-stratigraphic study of the archaeological sequence, in combination with other procedures focusing on the micro scale of the spatial analysis, we can confidently dissect the different archaeo-units of this anthropogenic aggregate. These archaeo-units must be interpreted as micro-palimpsests showing a level of synchronicity as accurate as possible. In the present work, this methodology constitutes the referential criterion for assemblage grouping and it is the baseline for the subsequent technological study of the different anthropogenic entities identified at SHK Extension.

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Data availability

All referred data published in this article is included in both the main manuscript and the supplementary material. Archaeological materials are curated in the Mturi-Aguirre Scientific Station at Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania).

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank the Tanzanian Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH), the Division of Antiquities, and NCAA (Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority), within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, for permission to conduct research at Olduvai Gorge.

Funding

This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the National Plan I + D + i (project HAR2013-45246-C3-3-P).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Prehistory and Archaeology, University of Valladolid, Pza. del Campus S/N, 47011, Valladolid, Spain

    Cristina Fraile-Márquez, Fernando Diez-Martín, Javier Duque-Martínez, Policarpo Sánchez-Yustos & Sara de Francisco

  2. Department of Geodinamics, Complutense University, Avda. Complutense S/N, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    David Uribelarrea

  3. Museo Arqueológico Regional, Pza. De Las Bernardas S/N, 28801, Alcalá de Henares, Spain

    Enrique Baquedano

  4. Institute of Evolution in Africa (IDEA), University of Alcalá, Covarrubias 36, 28010, Madrid, Spain

    Enrique Baquedano & Manuel Domínguez-Rodrigo

  5. Department of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, University of Dar Es Salaam, P.O. Box 35050, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

    Audax Mabulla

  6. Area of Prehistory, University of Alcalá, 28801, Alcalá de Henares, Spain

    Manuel Domínguez-Rodrigo

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  1. Cristina Fraile-Márquez
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Contributions

All authors contributed to this work. Cristina Fraile-Márquez and Fernando Diez-Martín conceptualized the work, did formal analysis, and applied methodology. Cristina Fraile-Márquez and Fernando Diez-Martín wrote the main manuscript and produced figures. Fieldwork and data collection were performed by Cristina Fraile-Márquez, Fernando Diez-Martín, Javier Duque-Martínez, David Uribelarrea, Policarpo Sánchez-Yustos, and Sara de Francisco; Fernando Diez Martín, Enrique Baquedano, Audax Mabulla, and Manuel Domínguez-Rodrigo are responsible for funding acquisition and project administration. All authors read, reviewed, and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Cristina Fraile-Márquez.

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Fraile-Márquez, C., Diez-Martín, F., Duque-Martínez, J. et al. Facing the palimpsest conundrum: an archaeo-stratigraphic approach to the intra-site analysis of SHK Extension (Bed II, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania). Archaeol Anthropol Sci 14, 230 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-022-01691-3

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