Stone enclosures and structures are the main archaeological remains known in the geocultural area mistakenly referred to as 'Lobi country' in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Since the first publications on their subject at the beginning of the twentieth century, their architecture has been the material aspect most dealt with. This focus on architectural aspects is justified on the one hand by their atypical nature for the region and on the other by their ease of access through the outcrops of walls on the surface. On the other hand, the archaeological material, particularly ceramics, has been neglected, even though several authors make reference to it. With the advent of archaeological excavations in the early 2000s, ceramics proved to be in the majority in the corpus of artefacts unearthed during the various investigations undertaken. Given the potential of ceramics to shed light on ancient cultural events, it is essential to study them in order to understand stone enclosures and structures. This article, devoted to the morpho-typological characterisation of the ceramics discovered in structures on the outskirts of the ruins of Lorop & eacute;ni (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), is intended as a starting point for such work.
This study presents the results of archaeological excavations conducted in November/December 2024 at the post-Roman (late fourth to fifth centuries AD) Cemeteries N1-N2 at Berenike, a major port on Egypt's Red Sea coast. Research there seeks to reconstruct the spatial organisation, chronology and historical significance of these burial grounds and to reassess the role of indigenous Eastern Desert communities in the site's later historical trajectory following the decline of Roman control. A detailed analysis of spatial relationships between chamber tombs and surrounding shaft graves reveals a socially structured mortuary landscape. Simultaneously, the consistent eastward orientation of tomb entrances and the intentional placement of graves to preserve visual connections with the post-Roman settlement indicate shared cultural principles governing mortuary location and perceptions of the landscape. By situating Cemeteries N1-N2 within broader regional and Red Sea contexts, this study demonstrates that the proliferation of new burial forms at Berenike coincided with significant political, demographic and economic transformations in the Eastern Desert. The findings highlight the growing archaeological visibility of indigenous communities and underscore their agency in transforming Berenike from a Roman-controlled emporium into a locally governed port integrated within Red Sea networks.
Archaeological research conducted in recent years in the municipality of Sourgou, located in the province of Boulkiemd & eacute; in Burkina Faso, has revealed numerous traces of ancient iron production in several villages in the area. In this context, archaeological investigations were carried out in May 2024 in the village of Ravinsme, which belongs to the municipality of Sourgou. This research identified a large iron ore reduction workshop, marked by the presence of three relatively close clusters of slag. Surveys carried out on three furnace bases at this site, as well as analysis of the ironworking waste collected, clearly reveal the existence of two distinct technical traditions. The first technical tradition is characterised by large reduction structures with reusable trapped slag. The ironworking waste from this technical tradition consists of large used tuy & egrave;res and large blocks of slag cast inside the furnace. The reduction structures of this first technical tradition operated by natural air draft. The second technical tradition is characterised by the use of small furnaces with trapped slag, which were fed with forced air. Radiocarbon dating carried out on two charcoal samples places the beginning of ironworking activity at this workshop around the tenth century AD for the first technical tradition and between the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries for the second. In addition to the smelting workshop, a large man-made mound littered with pottery sherds was identified less than 80 metres away. Some ceramic artefacts recovered from the surface of this mound were studied. The aim of this study is to shed light on the ancient technical systems used for iron production at Ravinisme and to establish the different chronological phases of the development of this ancient technology.
Fort Tantumquery, a British colonial fort built in the 1720s at Otuam in Ghana's Central Region, represents a significant yet archaeologically uninvestigated heritage site in West Africa. This study presents the first ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey and targeted excavation at the site, demonstrating an integrated geophysical-archaeological workflow suited to tropical West African heritage contexts. A GPR system with an 800 MHz shielded antenna was deployed across two survey grids - Locus 1 (southern area) and Locus 2 (northern area) - each measuring 7 & times; 5 m with 1 m profile spacing. GPR reflection profiles were classified by geometry and amplitude. At Locus 1, high-amplitude, laterally discontinuous reflections between 0.00 and 0.60 m depth were interpreted as a heterogeneous cultural horizon characterised by high dielectric contrast between ceramic, metallic and organic inclusions. A moderately continuous planar reflection at approximately 0.45 m depth was associated with a compacted anthropogenic surface, validated by excavation of a compact clay floor and adjacent stone quern at the corresponding depth. At Locus 2, laterally continuous, moderate-amplitude planar reflections between 0.20 and 0.90 m indicated a stratified deposit with alternating moisture-retention properties; excavation confirmed artefact-bearing layers to 0.90 m, underlain by archaeologically sterile gravel. Signal attenuation below the cultural horizons at both loci provided clear geophysical boundaries for excavation targeting. A total of 365 artefacts were recovered, validating the GPR interpretations and confirming the method's capacity to delineate cultural deposits and guide excavation strategy in a tropical environment. The results establish a reproducible GPR-excavation workflow with direct applicability to colonial-era heritage investigations across Ghana and West Africa. Le Fort Tantumquery, un fort colonial britannique construit dans les ann & eacute;es 1720 & agrave; Otuam, dans la r & eacute;gion centrale du Ghana, repr & eacute;sente un site patrimonial important mais arch & eacute;ologiquement inexplor & eacute; en Afrique de l'Ouest. Cette & eacute;tude pr & eacute;sente la premi & egrave;re enqu & ecirc;te sur le site utilisant le radar & agrave; p & eacute;n & eacute;tration terrestre (GPR) et une fouille cibl & eacute;e, d & eacute;montrant un flux de travail g & eacute;ophysique-arch & eacute;ologique int & eacute;gr & eacute; adapt & eacute; aux contextes patrimoniaux tropicaux de l'Afrique de l'Ouest. Un syst & egrave;me GPR avec une antenne blind & eacute;e & agrave; 800 MHz a & eacute;t & eacute; d & eacute;ploy & eacute; sur deux grilles de relev & eacute; - Locus 1 (zone sud) et Locus 2 (zone nord) - chacune mesurant 7 & times; 5 m avec un espacement de profil de 1 m. Les profils de r & eacute;flexion GPR & eacute;taient class & eacute;s selon la g & eacute;om & eacute;trie et l'amplitude. Au Locus 1, des r & eacute;flexions & agrave; haute amplitude et discontinues lat & eacute;ralement entre 0.00 et 0.60 m de profondeur ont & eacute;t & eacute; interpr & eacute;t & eacute;es comme un horizon culturel h & eacute;t & eacute;rog & egrave;ne caract & eacute;ris & eacute; par un fort contraste di & eacute;lectrique entre inclusions c & eacute;ramiques, m & eacute;talliques et organiques. Une r & eacute;flexion planaire mod & eacute;r & eacute;ment continue & agrave; environ 0.45 m de profondeur & eacute;tait associ & eacute;e & agrave; une surface anthropique compact & eacute;e, valid & eacute;e par l'excavation d'un sol argileux compact et d'un moulin de pierre adjacent & agrave; la profondeur correspondante. Au lieu 2, des r & eacute;flexions planaires lat & eacute;ralement continues et d'amplitude mod & eacute;r & eacute;e entre 0.20 et 0.90 m indiquaient un d & eacute;p & ocirc;t stratifi & eacute; avec des propri & eacute;t & eacute;s altern & eacute;es de r & eacute;tention d'humidit & eacute;. Les fouilles ont confirm & eacute; que les couches portant des artefacts atteignaient 0.90 m, sous un gravier arch & eacute;ologiquement st & eacute;rile. L'att & eacute;nuation du signal sous les horizons culturels aux deux lieux a permis de d & eacute;finir clairement les limites g & eacute;ophysiques pour la ciblage des fouilles. Un total de 365 artefacts ont & eacute;t & eacute; r & eacute;cup & eacute;r & eacute;s, validant les interpr & eacute;tations du GPR et confirmant la capacit & eacute; de cette m & eacute;thode & agrave; d & eacute;limiter les d & eacute;p & ocirc;ts culturels et & agrave; orienter la strat & eacute;gie de fouille dans un environnement tropical. Les r & eacute;sultats & eacute;tablissent un flux de travail reproductible par GPR avec une application directe aux enqu & ecirc;tes patrimoniales de l'& eacute;poque coloniale & agrave; travers le Ghana et l'Afrique de l'Ouest.
The Acheulean archaeological record of Ethiopia has played a key role in understanding the evolution of lithic technology throughout the African Earlier Stone Age. Sites situated in the Great Rift Valley and Highland areas of Ethiopia range in age from the Early to the Middle Pleistocene and provide opportunities to investigate how tool manufacturing was impacted by different ecological settings through time. Despite the importance of Ethiopian Acheulean sites, comparisons across different geographical locations and temporal boundaries remain rare. This paper compares Acheulean large cutting tools (LCTs) and cores from Gadeb, located in the Highlands, with the Rift Valley localities of Bouri, Hargufia, Bodo and Dawaitoli, which collectively date to between similar to 1.04 and similar to 0.6 million years ago. The results demonstrate a high degree of homogeneity in core and large cutting tool (LCT) reduction strategies, specifically in raw material procurement and blank selection. These patterns of continuity reflect a refined focus on the early phases of stone tool manufacturing towards the onset of the Late Acheulean period, generally characterised by complex core and LCT reduction sequences. Temporal intensification in LCT refinement through time demonstrates a coherent evolutionary trend, heightened neuromotor competence and the behavioural adaptability required for hominins to navigate across diverse eastern African terrains. This cross-regional analysis demonstrates technological continuity across diverse ecological regimes, but also the presence of strategic flexibility to change reduction approaches in order to accommodate variation in raw material availability and quality. Le corpus arch & eacute;ologique de l'Acheul & eacute;en en Ethiopie a jou & eacute; un r & ocirc;le cl & eacute; dans la compr & eacute;hension de l'& eacute;volution de la technologie lithique au cours de l'Earlier Stone Age africain. Les sites localis & eacute;s dans la vall & eacute;e du Grand Rift et sur les Hauts Plateaux & eacute;thiopiens datent du Pl & eacute;istoc & egrave;ne inf & eacute;rieur & agrave; moyen, et permettent d'& eacute;tudier comment la fabrication d'outils en pierre a & eacute;t & eacute; impact & eacute;e par diff & eacute;rents contextes & eacute;cologiques au cours du temps. Malgr & eacute; l'importance des sites acheul & eacute;ens d'& Eacute;thiopie, les comparaisons entre diff & eacute;rentes zones g & eacute;ographiques et diff & eacute;rentes p & eacute;riodes restent rares. Cet article compare de larges outils tranchants (large cutting tools, LCTs) et des nucl & eacute;us acheul & eacute;ens de Gadeb, situ & eacute; sur les hauts-plateaux, avec les localit & eacute;s de Bouri, Hargufia, Bodo and Dawaitoli dans la Vall & eacute;e du Rift, dat & eacute;s collectivement entre similar to 1.04 et similar to 0.6 millions d'ann & eacute;es. Les r & eacute;sultats indiquent un haut degr & eacute; d'homog & eacute;n & eacute;it & eacute; dans les strat & eacute;gies de r & eacute;duction des nucl & eacute;us et des LCTs, en particulier en ce qui concerne l'approvisionnement en mati & egrave;res premi & egrave;res et la s & eacute;lection des produits. Ces & eacute;l & eacute;ments de continuit & eacute; t & eacute;moignent d'une attention particuli & egrave;re port & eacute;e aux premi & egrave;res phases de fabrication des outils en pierre & agrave; l'approche de l'Acheul & eacute;en R & eacute;cent, g & eacute;n & eacute;ralement caract & eacute;ris & eacute; par des s & eacute;quences de r & eacute;duction complexes des nucl & eacute;us et des LCTs. L'intensification de l'attention port & eacute;e sur les LCTs au cours du temps indique une tendance & eacute;volutive coh & eacute;rente, une hausse des comp & eacute;tences neuromotrices, et l'adaptabilit & eacute; comportementale n & eacute;cessaire aux hominin & eacute;s pour se d & eacute;placer & agrave; travers divers terrains d'Afrique de l'Est. Cette analyse interr & eacute;gionale met en & eacute;vidence une continuit & eacute; technologique & agrave; travers divers r & eacute;gimes & eacute;cologiques, mais aussi la pr & eacute;sence d'une flexibilit & eacute; strat & eacute;gique permettant d'adapter les m & eacute;thodes de r & eacute;duction en fonction des variations dans la disponibilit & eacute; et la qualit & eacute; des mati & egrave;res premi & egrave;res.
In recent decades, increasing attention has been given to Stone Age ostrich eggshell beads from southern and eastern Africa including significant works of experimental replication. However, comparatively little effort has been made to reproduce important finishing steps such as batch polishing. As a consequence, we are limited in our understanding of what these techniques can achieve and hindered in our ability to locate them in the archaeological record. This paper presents results from an experimental program in which beads were finished using different methods. Its findings show that different polishing techniques are identifiable based on measurements of size and shape. Further, they produce different aesthetic effects and thus were potentially preferred by different groups at different times and places. Variables associated with finishing techniques should therefore be recorded and reported alongside more common stylistic features such as external bead diameter. Au cours de ces derni & egrave;res d & eacute;cennies, une attention croissante a & eacute;t & eacute; port & eacute;e sur les perles en coquille d'oe uf d'autruche d'Afrique australe et orientale dat & eacute;es de l'Age de Pierre, notamment d'importantes & eacute;tudes de r & eacute;plication exp & eacute;rimentale. Cependant, comparativement peu d'efforts ont & eacute;t & eacute; consacr & eacute;s & agrave; la reproduction d'& eacute;tapes clefs de finition telles que le polissage. Par cons & eacute;quent, notre compr & eacute;hension des possibilit & eacute;s offertes par ces techniques reste limit & eacute;e, ce qui entrave leur identification en contexte arch & eacute;ologique. Cet article pr & eacute;sente les r & eacute;sultats issus d'un programme exp & eacute;rimental dans lequel les perles ont & eacute;t & eacute; finalis & eacute;es suivant diff & eacute;rentes m & eacute;thodes. Ces r & eacute;sultats montrent que diff & eacute;rentes techniques de polissage peuvent & ecirc;tre identifi & eacute;es & agrave; partir de mesures de la taille et de la forme. De plus, ces techniques produisent diff & eacute;rents effets esth & eacute;tiques qui auraient pu & ecirc;tre pr & eacute;f & eacute;r & eacute;s par diff & eacute;rents groupes & agrave; diff & eacute;rentes p & eacute;riodes et locations. Les variables associ & eacute;es aux techniques de finition devraient d & egrave;s lors & ecirc;tre enregistr & eacute;es et rapport & eacute;es parall & egrave;lement & agrave; d'autres param & egrave;tres stylistiques plus communs tels que le diam & egrave;tre ext & eacute;rieur des perles.
The stone-built sites of Dhar Tichitt, Mauritania, occupy a central place in the history and archaeology of West Africa, testifying to village growth after 2000 BC. The 1968 excavations there by Patrick Munson at a dozen sites within a 40-km-long study area produced foundational data and radiocarbon dates that shaped early interpretive frameworks of the Tichitt Tradition. The 14 AMS dates on curated charcoal samples from his excavations reported here provide much greater chronological precision and bring into focus the extent of gaps in existing chronologies that rely on conventional radiocarbon dates. Restudy of the excavated pottery provides new descriptive details, including petrographic analysis, organic residue analysis and data on time-sensitive changes that were previously available only in Munson's 1971 dissertation. Discussion focuses on the evidentiary issues brought to light by the new dates and data and how these affect our ability to understand the growth, functioning and potential interactions over time among the hundreds of settlements attributed to the wider Tichitt Tradition. Les sites b & acirc;tis en pierre de Dhar Tichitt occupent une place centrale dans l'histoire et l'arch & eacute;ologie de l'Afrique de l'Ouest, t & eacute;moignant de l'expansion villageoise apr & egrave;s 2000 av. J.-C. Les fouilles men & eacute;es en 1968 par P. Munson sur une douzaine de sites r & eacute;partis dans une zone d'& eacute;tude de 40 km de long ont fourni des donn & eacute;es fondamentales, ainsi que des datations au radiocarbone qui ont fa & ccedil;onn & eacute; les premiers cadres interpr & eacute;tatifs pour la Tradition Tichitt. Les 14 datations AMS r & eacute;alis & eacute;es & agrave; partir d'& eacute;chantillons de charbons issus des collections de ses fouilles, et ici pr & eacute;sent & eacute;es, offrent une pr & eacute;cision chronologique bien plus grande et mettent en lumi & egrave;re l'ampleur des lacunes dans les chronologies existantes bas & eacute;es sur les datations au radiocarbone conventionnelles. La reprise des & eacute;tudes sur la poterie issue des fouilles offre de nouveaux d & eacute;tails descriptifs, qui comprennent l'analyse p & eacute;trographique, l'analyse de r & eacute;sidus organiques, et des donn & eacute;es sur les changements li & eacute;s au temps qui n'& eacute;taient auparavant disponibles que dans la dissertation & eacute;crite par Munson en 1971. La discussion se focalise sur les avanc & eacute;es et remises en question r & eacute;v & eacute;l & eacute;es par ces nouvelles dates et donn & eacute;es, et sur comment celles-ci influencent notre compr & eacute;hension du d & eacute;veloppement, du fonctionnement, et des potentielles interactions au cours du temps entre les centaines d'occupations attribu & eacute;es & agrave; la grande Tradition Tichitt.
Osaga Odak first described the Kakapel rock art of western Kenya in 1977. His sketch concentrated on the site's main central panel, capturing only the clearer images and he categorised the images present into humans, animals, artefacts and non-representational designs, proposing a sequence of two styles painted by two different groups. Odak further argued that Kakapel's paintings were drawn before the arrival in the region of the Kalenjin, placing them before the reach of oral history and thereby making it impossible to ascribe an authorship or age to them. Fieldwork in 2011 was undertaken to answer Odak's call for further research at the site. This paper presents the first millimetre-accurate redrawing of the main panel at Kakapel and places the site within the broader context of eastern African rock art to propose an age and authorship for the different painted traditions represented there. It thus builds on and extends current understandings of the rock art sequence of eastern Africa. Osaga Odak a & eacute;t & eacute; le premier & agrave; d & eacute;crire l'art rupestre de Kakapel & agrave; l'ouest du Kenya en 1977. Ses croquis se sont focalis & eacute;s sur le panneau central principal du site, et ne repr & eacute;sentent que les images les plus claires. Il a class & eacute; les images pr & eacute;sentes en humains, animaux, artefacts, et designs non-figuratifs, et a propos & eacute; une s & eacute;quence de deux styles peints par deux groupes diff & eacute;rents. Odak a de plus propos & eacute; que les peintures de Kakapel avaient & eacute;t & eacute; r & eacute;alis & eacute;es avant l'arriv & eacute;e des Kalenjin dans la r & eacute;gion, les pla & ccedil;ant ainsi hors de port & eacute;e de l'histoire orale, et rendant de fait impossible leur attribution et datation. Les travaux de terrain de 2011 ont & eacute;t & eacute; entrepris afin de r & eacute;pondre & agrave; l'appel d'Odak & agrave; poursuivre les recherches sur ce site. Cet article pr & eacute;sente le premier relev & eacute; au millim & egrave;tre pr & egrave;s du panneau principal de Kakapel, et place le site dans le contexte plus large de l'art rupestre d'Afrique de l'Est afin de proposer un & acirc;ge et une attribution pour les diff & eacute;rentes traditions picturales pr & eacute;sentes. Il s'appuie ainsi sur la s & eacute;quence de l'art rupestre d'Afrique de l'Est tout en d & eacute;veloppant notre compr & eacute;hension de celle-ci.
Nasera is a key site for understanding the Middle and Later Stone Age in northern Tanzania and East Africa, thanks to its nine-metre cultural sequence and 25 archaeological levels. Excavated previously by Louis Leakey (1932) and Michael Mehlman (1975-76), work resumed there in 2018. This paper presents the results of the excavation of Level 5, belonging to the Lemuta industry of the Later Stone Age, which is dated to 47.1 +/- 4.5 kya. The faunal assemblage comprises species such as Alcelaphini, Antilopini and Equus quagga, which supports the existence of dry and open grasslands. The lithic assemblage consists of chert knapped using single-platform and prismatic blade/bladelet methods. Retouched blanks are scarce, but microliths (crescents and trapezes) predominate. These techno-typological characteristics and the site's chronology allow the assemblage to be related to the Naisiusiu industry of Olduvai.
This paper reports on a new archaeological research project in the Stormberg region of South Africa's Eastern Cape Province that began in 2018. After four prospecting surveys, an archaeological site - Marshill Rockshelter - was selected that could offer a long diachronic chronostratigraphic framework from the late Pleistocene to the Holocene in order to understand the deep past of this region and the long-term occupation of a mountain environment in the piedmont of the Maloti-Drakensberg Mountains. This paper presents the first archaeological analyses of this site's stratigraphy, geochronology, faunal pollen, ceramic and lithic assemblages and rock art. Marshill has a long and complex stratigraphic sequence with three clusters of dates: one in the last 2000 years, a second around the terminal Pleistocene (10-15 kya) and a third at >20 kya. The archaeological materials found are in accordance with these initial ages and provide unique snapshots into the region's past. A Middle Stone Age archaeological assemblage shows similarities with other sites in the Grassland, Savanna and Fynbos Biomes of southern Africa, although with the lithic evidence currently available it is difficult to establish stronger comparisons. Holocene layers, in contrast, produced microlithic Later Stone Age assemblages oriented towards the production of small flakes, most likely from unifacial cores. Initial faunal and pollen analyses accord with historical records in indicating an open grassland environment with thicketed valleys and gorges. The occurrence of domestic livestock in the upper Holocene layers suggests links to pastoralist groups and a herding economy. Preliminary ceramic analyses show several strategies for surface treatment, firing and modelling, while the textural groups defined document the use of fibre temper. Finally, the site's rock paintings were created in a shaded and hard-edge technique with both 'classic' and more recent subject matter. In sum, the archaeological record from Marshill Shelter demonstrates a long but intermittent series of human occupations extending from the deep past to the historical period.
West Africa is a centre of domestication for pearl millet, but the spread of agricultural practices across the region remains poorly constrained. This is the result of the limited application of macrobotanical studies from controlled excavations paired with the use of absolute dating methods. This paper presents the results from a sampling excavation from Gnith, northern Senegal. The site is situated overlooking Lac de Guiers, a region known for its prehistoric tumuli, but one that has not previously undergone controlled excavation. Sampling at the edge of a potential habitation site recovered a dense macrobotanical assemblage, dominated by pearl millet, alongside ceramic pieces from a horizon dating to cal. AD 130-237. These results help illuminate the westward spread of agricultural domesticates, marking the first presence of pearl millet beyond the Middle Senegal Valley in the context of increased regional aridification. L'Afrique de l'Ouest est un centre de domestication du mil & agrave; chandelle, mais la diffusion des pratiques agricoles dans la r & eacute;gion reste mal d & eacute;finie. Ceci s'explique par l'application limit & eacute;e des & eacute;tudes macrobotaniques & agrave; partir de fouilles contr & ocirc;l & eacute;es combin & eacute;es & agrave; l'utilisation de m & eacute;thodes de datation absolue. Cet article pr & eacute;sente les r & eacute;sultats d'une fouille & agrave; Gnith au nord du S & eacute;n & eacute;gal. Le site surplombe le Lac de Guiers, une r & eacute;gion connue pour ses tumulus pr & eacute;historiques, mais o & ugrave; aucune fouille contr & ocirc;l & eacute;e n'avait auparavant & eacute;t & eacute; r & eacute;alis & eacute;e. Un & eacute;chantillonnage aux abords d'un potentiel site d'occupation a permis de mettre au jour un riche assemblage macrobotanique domin & eacute; par le mil & agrave; chandelle, ainsi que des fragments de c & eacute;ramique provenant d'un horizon dat & eacute; & agrave; cal. AD 130-237. Ces r & eacute;sultats contribuent & agrave; faire la lumi & egrave;re sur la diffusion vers l'ouest d'esp & egrave;ces agricoles domestiqu & eacute;es, et indiquent la premi & egrave;re occurrence du mil & agrave; chandelle au-del & agrave; de la Moyenne Vall & eacute;e du S & eacute;n & eacute;gal dans un contexte d'aridification r & eacute;gionale accrue.
Southern African Middle Stone Age research has largely focused on the region's coastal caves and rock-shelters, while its semi-arid interior remains under-investigated due to the assumption of limited stratified deposits. Nevertheless, as recent studies prove, this region also possesses potential for contributing to Palaeolithic archaeology. This study presents surveys and excavations in southern Botswana that documented Pleistocene quartzite lithic artefacts near quartzite outcrops and pans (palaeolakes). Excavations at Maralaleng Pan and Itireleng yielded stone artefacts on and below the surface, providing new information about Pleistocene habitation in this region. This paper presents the abundance, condition and spatial distribution of lithic artefacts within an open-air context, connecting them to potential occupational windows within this landscape. Generally, damaged and weathered artefacts are scattered at quartzite outcrops close to pans. Flakes are the most abundant artefact type in every unit, while cores are less common and mostly present at the raw material outcrops. A likely scenario is that the artefacts were manufactured at the raw material outcrops. Various spots of lithic concentrations are influenced by natural processes and are also indicators of occupational windows in a changing landscape. This study aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of human development in the southern Kalahari during the Pleistocene. La recherche sur le Middle Stone Age d'Afrique australe s'est largement focalis & eacute;e sur les grottes et abris-sous-roche des r & eacute;gions c & ocirc;ti & egrave;res, alors que l'int & eacute;rieur semi-aride demeure sous-& eacute;tudi & eacute;, les d & eacute;p & ocirc;ts stratifi & eacute;s y & eacute;tant per & ccedil;us comme limit & eacute;s. Cependant, cette r & eacute;gion a le potentiel de contribuer & agrave; l'arch & eacute;ologie Pal & eacute;olithique, comme le prouvent de nouvelles & eacute;tudes. Cette & eacute;tude pr & eacute;sente des prospections et fouilles effectu & eacute;es dans le sud du Botswana, qui documentent des artefacts lithiques en quartzite du Pl & eacute;istoc & egrave;ne, situ & eacute;s & agrave; proximit & eacute; d'affleurements de quartzite et de pans (pal & eacute;olacs). Des fouilles & agrave; Maralaleng Pan and Itireleng ont mis au jour des artefacts lithiques sur et sous la surface, offrant de nouvelles informations sur les occupations pl & eacute;istoc & egrave;nes de cette r & eacute;gion. Dans cet article, nous pr & eacute;sentons l'abondance, l'& eacute;tat de conservation et la distribution spatiale d'artefacts lithiques dans un contexte de plein-air, en les reliant & agrave; de potentielles fen & ecirc;tres d'occupation au sein de ce paysage. Le plus souvent, des artefacts endommag & eacute;s et & eacute;rod & eacute;s sont dispers & eacute;s sur les affleurements de quartzite, pr & egrave;s des pans. Les & eacute;clats sont le type d'artefact le plus repr & eacute;sent & eacute; dans chaque unit & eacute;, tandis que les nucl & eacute;us sont moins repr & eacute;sent & eacute;s et principalement pr & eacute;sents sur les affleurements de mati & egrave;re premi & egrave;re. Le sc & eacute;nario le plus probable est que ces artefacts aient & eacute;t & eacute; manufactur & eacute;s sur les affleurements de mati & egrave;re premi & egrave;re. Plusieurs zones de concentration lithique sont influenc & eacute;es par des processus naturels, et indiquent & eacute;galement des fen & ecirc;tres d'occupation dans un paysage en mutation. Cette & eacute;tude vise & agrave; contribuer & agrave; une compr & eacute;hension plus approfondie du d & eacute;veloppement humain dans le Kalahari austral durant le Pl & eacute;istoc & egrave;ne.
