User:Mangrumbrian/sandbox

LOCATION:

The K6 site, (8∘ N., 1∘45’W) is located in a naturally occurring rock shelter at the southeastern end of a sandstone rock formation. This formation emerges suddenly from a mostly flat terrain. The shelter is in an opening 45m wide, and less than 10m deep. Large pieces of fallen rock covers the Western two thirds of the shelter’s floor, which has rendered it impossible to conduct archaeological excavation. The shelter’s deposits are divided into six stratigraphic layers, of different colors and textures, and contain mostly materials associated with the Punpun phase and the Kintampo culture. K6 has been excavated by the archaeologists Colin Flight, in 1967 and 1968, as well as by Ann Stahl in 1982. The excavations were conducted in order to gain a better understanding of the origins of the Kintampo culture, and their way of life, as they are the first instance of a food-producing economy in the region. It is an important site within the Kintampo debate because the absence of evidence for a replacement of populations within the stratigraphic record led Ann B. Stahl to challenge Davies’ and Flight’s model of replacement as an explanation for Kintampo agriculture.

The area around K6 is of a higher elevation than surrounding areas of same latitude, and receives more precipitation. Because of this higher elevation the area supports a dry, semi-deciduous forest instead of the savanna which is a more common in the region.

Colin Flight’s 1967-68 excavations involved most of the shelter; he removed 60 square meters of earth, and in later excavations it was noted that animal burrowing caused a disturbance in the stratigraphic layering of the remainder of the site.

EXCAVATIONS:

K-6's Significance within the Kintampo debate.

K-6 is one of the only rock shelters that displays a long period of occupation and well-preserved organic remains, and it provided a stratigraphically controlled sample for Stahl to contest Flight’s replacement model. Colin Flight’s 1967-68 excavations involved most of the shelter; he removed 60 square meters of earth. During later excavations by Stahl it was noted that animal burrowing caused a disturbance in the stratigraphic layering of the remainder of the site.

Stahl’s 1982 excavation results:

Stahl excavated K-6 to find continuity between the Punpun phase and the Kintampo culture, as she worked to counter Flight’s model of replacement between the two sets of artifacts. Her observations are that the diagnostic artifacts of Kintampo culture did not all appear at the same time, indicating a cultural development process rather than a cultural replacement.

Ceramics: Stahl found 1014 sherds, 397 of which were decorated. Stahl identified 360 fragments as Kintampo sherds, predominantly bowls and jars. The pottery at K6 is predominantly decorated using various comb stamps, but chord impressions and mat impressions are common. 34 ceramic samples are linked to the Punpun phase, displaying evidence of coil manufacture. Stahl’s excavations found no clear stratigraphic break between Punpun and Kintampo phases.

Lithics: Kintampo Stone “cigars”, rasp-like objects whose exact function is not known, along with polished stone fragments resulting from polishing or sharpening objects, and struck stones, evidence of tool manufacture, were found by Stahl. The most common raw material for the stone objects was a greenstone available only 70 km away.

Shell beads were also uncovered, as well as remains of cattle, large rodents, snail shell, black-fronted and blue duiker, antelope, goat, sheep, vervet monkey, baboon, giant rats, shrew, cane rat, tortoise, freshwater turtle, monitor lizard, hornbills and guinea fowl. Faunal remains include canarium, oil palm, celtis, wood charcoal, evidence of agricultural activities.

Though there is still debate about the validity of the immigration/replacement model proposed by Derek Watson and the introduction/diffusion model proposed by Stahl, shifts in lifestyle are observed throughout different stratigraphic levels of the site, reflecting a transition to a more sedentary, agricultural lifestyle. Though there is a predominance of wild animal consumption at K6 throughout all stratigraphic levels, we see a decreased presence of primate remains and an increased presence of large rodents in later levels. The change in nature of the animals hunted reflects a lifestyle more consistent with cultivation.