The Nubian Spectrum: 3D Geometric Morphometric Perspectives on Levallois Core Reduction at Tweefontein, South Africa

Overview

This study examines Nubian Levallois cores recovered from the open-air site of Tweefontein in South Africa's interior, positioning them within the broader spectrum of Middle Stone Age prepared core technologies. The research addresses inconsistencies in current terminology and classification schemes for Levallois assemblages in southern Africa, where classic preferential Levallois cores remain relatively uncommon. The Tweefontein assemblage is notable for containing substantial quantities of Nubian cores alongside diverse other prepared core forms, enabling systematic comparative analysis of prepared core variability and technological strategies.

Methods and approach

Three-dimensional geometric morphometrics was the primary analytical framework, supplemented by additional quantitative methods to assess core morphology and reduction technology. The approach evaluated the distinctiveness of specific core types and examined variation across the prepared core assemblage. This methodology moves beyond traditional typological classification to capture the continuous variation in core morphology and identify underlying technological strategies. The quantitative approach enables direct comparison of morphological attributes across core categories without reliance on categorical type assignments.

Key Findings

Nubian Levallois cores at Tweefontein represent one point along a continuum of preferential Levallois reduction rather than a discrete, morphologically distinct category. The site contains this Nubian core reduction strategy in association with distinct radial and opposed-platform prepared core reduction strategies. The quantitative morphometric analysis demonstrates variation that does not align perfectly with traditional typological boundaries, suggesting that current terminology may obscure underlying technological continuities and local adaptations.

Implications

The findings underscore the problematic reliance on discrete typological categories for characterizing prepared core technologies in southern African assemblages. Current heterogeneous terminology across sites and regions impedes comparative analysis and may misrepresent the nature of technological variation. The application of three-dimensional geometric morphometrics offers methodological advancement for examining prepared core assemblages beyond type-based frameworks. This approach is particularly valuable for southern African contexts where terminological inconsistency currently limits meaningful inter-assemblage comparison. The results demonstrate that technologies classified differently across sites may represent local expressions of related reduction strategies rather than fundamentally distinct approaches. Future systematic application of quantitative morphometric methods could facilitate more coherent understanding of prepared core variability across the Middle Stone Age archaeological record.