Stone Age archaeology of the Riet River dongas, Free State, South Africa

Abstract

Recent research on the Middle Stone Age of southern Africa’s central interior underscores the pivotal role played by this region in the emergence and cultural evolution of African Homo sapiens. In the central interior, specifically the Grassland and Savanna Biomes of South Africa’s Free State Province, the earliest southern African Homo sapiens fossil originates from the site of Florisbad. Despite this, archaeological data remain sparse, hindering efforts to integrate cultural evidence and hominin fossil records into a coherent regional synthesis. Addressing this gap requires the development of a robust technological and geochronological reference framework for the Free State region. Here, we present results from an archaeological survey of the Riet River donga systems, where erosional incisions into alluvial terraces have exposed extensive lithic assemblages and occasional associated Florisian fauna. Our survey identified archaeological sites spanning the Earlier to Later Stone Age, across 32 dongas. These findings provide an essential foundation for establishing a technological framework, facilitating the development of an archaeological narrative for the open landscapes of the central interior and enabling comparative analysis with other regions across southern Africa.