Human occupation of the semi-arid grasslands of South Africa during MIS 4: New archaeological and paleoecological evidence from Lovedale, Free State

Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 and 4 are periods of major cultural innovations in the Middle Stone Age (MSA) southern Africa. While extensive data is available for coast, far less known about interior, particular its central plateau. This likely due to large geographic extent this area a general paucity caves rock shelters that can provide long stratigraphic sequences environmental records. The lack information systematic research has hindered our understanding regional variation patterns human dispersal within subcontinent. Our at open-air MSA site Lovedale situated on Modder River addresses issue. Using sediment micromorphology, infrared spectroscopy bones sediments, phytolith faunal analyses, as well luminescence dating, we have reconstructed evolution paleoenvironments region specific points over last ∼80,000 years. results help contextualize occupation hunting strategies associated with pre-Howiesons Poort technology occurred wetland environment during short-lived warm, dry period dated ∼70 ka. These show humans settled grasslands interior onset MIS confirm importance wetlands subsistence strategies, especially times climatic stress.