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Assessment Questions 8.3
1. According to David W. Phillipson, what characterizes the period of 100,000 to 8,000 years ago in Africa?
According to David W. Phillipson, the period of 100,000 to 8,000 years ago in Africa is characterized by the movement away from "broad cultural uniformity" and "towards the establishment of distinct regional traditions."
2. Describe the Iberomaurusian culture of northwest Africa, including their subsistence strategy and tools.
The Iberomaurusian culture in northwest Africa, dating to after 16,000 B.P., made small stone blade artifacts used for scraping and piercing. Their subsistence strategy included hunting wild cattle, gazelle, hartebeest, and Barbary sheep. Marine mollusks, including snails, were important, and there were indications of reliance on seeds, nuts, and roots.
3. What cultural change occurred in northwest Africa after 10,000 B.P., and how did the Capsian culture differ from the Iberomaurusian culture in terms of subsistence and tools?
After 10,000 B.P., the Iberomaurusian culture in northwest Africa was replaced by the Capsian culture. The Capsian culture continued to hunt wild sheep, collect shellfish and snails, dig for roots, and grind seeds and nuts. They used microlith blades set into wooden or bone handles for harvesting wild grains.