Deciphering Middle Stone Age Technological Behaviors: An Analysis of the Lithic Technology from Level VI-B at Mumba, Tanzania - African Archaeological Review
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The Mumba rockshelter, located in the northwest of Lake Eyasi is key to understanding the Stone Age in East Africa. The stratigraphy of the site spans the last 130 ka BP and comprises levels from the Middle Stone Age, the Later Stone Age, the Pastoral Neolithic, and the Iron Age. In terms of the Middle Stone Age (MSA), Mumba has helped to define two lithic industries: Sanzako (130 ka BP) and Kisele (90–50 Ka BP) that characterize this techno-complex in northern Tanzania. The Sanzako industry was defined based on level VI-B at Mumba, which was excavated in 1938 by Köhl-Larssen. Here we present the study of the lithic assemblage excavated by Mehlman between 1977 and 1981. Mehlman subdivided this unit into three sublevels (Lower, Middle, and Upper), all of which remained unanalyzed and therefore, unpublished. The main features of the lithic assemblages found in the three sublevels are the presence of discoid, Levallois, and bipolar knapping methods. Additionally, the retouched tools are mainly sidescrapers, denticulates, and notches. This recent research enables us to understand the Sanzako industry in more detail, as well as its nature within the chronocultural framework of the MSA in northern Tanzania.

The lithic assemblage recovered from sublevels VI-B Middle and Upper appears to be the result of Homo sapiens group settlements at Lake Eyasi during the first part of MIS5.

The industry in both sublevels, termed Sanzako, comprises discoid, Levallois, and bipolar knapping methods, as well as the presence of tools such as sidescrapers, denticulates, and notches. It is worth noting the small presence of Levallois methods and the absence of points in both assemblages (VI-B Middle and VI-B Upper).

The raw material management is very similar to the patterns observed in the upper levels of the rockshelter (VI-A and V), indicating that raw material procurement took place in a consistent manner across time. It focused on local raw materials, with just a small percentage (obsidian), indicating evidence of long-distance contacts.

Based on all the results obtained thus far, we should continue to consider the Sanzako as an industry characteristic of the Early MSA in northern Tanzania for the period 131.7–109.5 ka BP.