Recasting the Sangoan Stone Age Techno-Complex in the Stone Age Nomenclature at Sango Bay, Southern Uganda

Abstract

This paper discusses the complex use of the term ' Sangoan ' and its placementbetween the Early Stone Age (ESA) and Middle Stone Age (MSA) using data fromSimba Hill in Sango Bay. The purpose is to examine whether the Sangoan isAcheulean, Middle Stone Age, or an independent lithic industry at Sango Bay. Fourspecific objectives guided the study: reviewing the Stone Age terminology, Sangoanlithic typology, technology, and environmental characteristics. A detailed literaturereview of the Stone Age nomenclature shows patterns and trends of the Sangoanterminology. At the same time, a combined lithic assemblage from thearchaeological surface survey and excavation yielded heavy and light-duty lithic tools.The 13 sites identified within the 202.6km radius surveyed yielded 73 lithic artefacts,while the excavation unit yielded 1344 lithic artefacts. The results suggest that theSangoan typology at Sango Bay has five general lithic categories of shaped tools,backed pieces, cores, and debitage. Typologically, the conventional Sangoan lithicsat Sango Bay include lanceolates, picks, cleavers, discoids, becs, points and coreaxes. Technologically, the Levallois lithic reduction strategy characterises theSangoan with unifacial and bifacial retouch and core technology elements. Thetoolmakers at Sango Bay used local raw materials, suggesting they were not highlymobile in terms of raw materials. Conclusively, therefore, the Sangoan is atransitional lithic industry.