CULTURE
Remains of West Africa's last hunter-gatherer communities discovered in Senegal
Archaeologists have uncovered the rare remains of West Africa's early hunter-gatherer communities at the Ravin Blanc X site in Senegal's Falémé Valley.
Noluthando Buthelezi
The breakthrough, dating back approximately 9,000 years, offers insight into how early hunter-gatherers in West Africa adapted and crafted the tools that sustained their day-to-day lives during the Holocene stone tool production period — a time following the last Ice Age when humans produced more specialized stone tools.
Researchers discovered numerous flakes indicating tool-making activity, the use of high-quality quartz, refined microliths, and shaped stone, likely for hunting. They also uncovered charcoal remains from a fireplace, which aided in dating and environmental reconstruction.
The findings suggest that overall, shared cultural practices may have existed among communities across the savannah regions. By contrast, tropical zones showed far less uniformity, indicating that varying environments influenced early human innovation.
The findings, published in the PLOS One journal by a team from Senegal, France, Switzerland, and Germany, emphasize the significance of this discovery, considering that harsh climate and geological conditions have destroyed most of West Africa's archaeological records. They provide ample insights into ancient settlement patterns and cultural exchange in the region.
