The Stone Tools from the Re-excavation of Nsongezi Rock Shelter, Uganda

Abstract

Although Nsongezi rock shelter has been the object of numerous investigations and publications, very little has been written about the “Later Stone Age” industry represented at this and other excavated sites in southern Uganda. This article provides a descriptive analysis of a stratified series obtained from the most recent excavations at Nsongezi rock shelter. The artefacts recovered from these excavations represent a “Wilton” industry and are dominated by microliths and a wide variety of scrapers. Outils écaillés, becs and burins are also common. The most interesting feature of the industry, however, is the markedly fluctuating frequencies of scrapers and microliths in the four Occurrences at the site. These fluctuations are closely correlated with changes in mean flake size and suggest that activity phases may be differentiated in the stone tool kit. Analysis of the stone implements also sheds some light on two outstanding problems. First, no evidence was found to support O'Brien's proposed “Kageran Industry”. Second, the manufacture of stone tools continued after the introduction of pottery.