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Cited by 949Pleistocene-Era Hominins and ArchaeologyMaritime and Coastal ArchaeologyArchaeology and Rock Art Studies

Early human use of marine resources and pigment in South Africa during the Middle Pleistocene

Marean, Curtis W., Bar-Matthews, Miryam, Bernatchez, Jocelyn, Fisher, Erich, Goldberg, Paul, Herries, Andy I. R., Jacobs, Zenobia, Jerardino, Antonieta +6 more·2007·Nature
DOI 10.1038/nature06204
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Abstract

Genetic and anatomical evidence suggests that Homo sapiens arose in Africa between 200 and 100 thousand years (kyr) ago, and recent evidence indicates symbolic behaviour may have appeared approximately 135-75 kyr ago. From 195-130 kyr ago, the world was in a fluctuating but predominantly glacial stage (marine isotope stage MIS6); much of Africa was cooler and drier, and dated archaeological sites are rare. Here we show that by approximately 164 kyr ago (+/-12 kyr) at Pinnacle Point (on the south coast of South Africa) humans expanded their diet to include marine resources, perhaps as a response to these harsh environmental conditions. The earliest previous evidence for human use of marine resources and coastal habitats was dated to approximately 125 kyr ago. Coincident with this diet and habitat expansion is an early use and modification of pigment, probably for symbolic behaviour, as well as the production of bladelet stone tool technology, previously dated to post-70 kyr ago. Shellfish may have been crucial to the survival of these early humans as they expanded their home ranges to include coastlines and followed the shifting position of the coast when sea level fluctuated over the length of MIS6.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nature06204

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  • Another critical adaptation in hominin evolution was the ability to improve the food supply by establishing a rich and stable food base through the control of fire, cooking, and exploiting coastal food resources.

    “Another critical adaptation in hominin evolution was the ability to improve the food supply by establishing a rich and stable food base through the control of fire (Homo erectus), cooking (early Homo sapiens or earlier) (66, 67), and exploiting coastal food resources (shellfish) (68).”

    From Emerging Adulthood, a Pre-adult Life-History Stage (2020) · cites this paper as [68]

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Authors
Marean, C. W., Bar-Matthews, M., Bernatchez, J., Fisher, E., Goldberg, P., Herries, A. I. R., Jacobs, Z., Jerardino, A., Karkanas, P., Minichillo, T., Nilssen, P. J., Thompson, E., Watts, I., & Williams, H. M.
Affiliations
  • Arizona State University (US)
  • University of Florida (US)
  • Boston University (US)
  • UNSW Sydney (AU)
  • University of Wollongong (AU)
  • University of Cape Town (ZA)
  • Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports (GR)
  • University of Washington (US)
  • Iziko Museums of South Africa (ZA)
Corresponding author
Marean, Curtis W.
ORCID
Venue
Nature
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2007-10
Volume
449
Issue
7164
Pages
905-908
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
DOI
10.1038/nature06204
OpenAlex
W2024501228
Cited by
949
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 68 · 2024: 33 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 64 · 2020: 52 · 2019: 53 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 38 · 2016: 64 · 2015: 49 · 2014: 61 · 2013: 64 · 2012: 50
FWCI
238.81
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • reroDoc Digital Library (submittedVersion)
  • Research Online (University of Wollongong) (submittedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Science Foundation
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Anthropology › Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
  • Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
  • Social Sciences › Archeology › Archaeology and Rock Art Studies
Keywords
human, Middle Pleistocene, shellfish exploitation, marine resource use, coastal resource exploitation, red ochre, pigment use, symbolic behavior, sea-level change, early human diet, South Africa
MeSH terms
Animals, Diet, Coloring Agents, Ferric Compounds, Humans, Human Activities, Shellfish, South Africa, Time Factors, Ecosystem, Indian Ocean, History, Ancient

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