Recasting the Sangoan Stone Age Techno-Complex in the Stone Age Nomenclature at Sango Bay, Southern Uganda
Abstract
This paper discusses the complex use of the term ' Sangoan ' and its placementbetween the Early Stone Age (ESA) and Middle Stone Age (MSA) using data from
Simba Hill in Sango Bay. The purpose is to examine whether the Sangoan is
Acheulean, Middle Stone Age, or an independent lithic industry at Sango Bay. Four
specific objectives guided the study: reviewing the Stone Age terminology, Sangoan
lithic typology, technology, and environmental characteristics. A detailed literature
review of the Stone Age nomenclature shows patterns and trends of the Sangoan
terminology. At the same time, a combined lithic assemblage from the
archaeological surface survey and excavation yielded heavy and light-duty lithic tools.
The 13 sites identified within the 202.6km radius surveyed yielded 73 lithic artefacts,
while the excavation unit yielded 1344 lithic artefacts. The results suggest that the
Sangoan typology at Sango Bay has five general lithic categories of shaped tools,
backed pieces, cores, and debitage. Typologically, the conventional Sangoan lithics
at Sango Bay include lanceolates, picks, cleavers, discoids, becs, points and core
axes. Technologically, the Levallois lithic reduction strategy characterises the
Sangoan with unifacial and bifacial retouch and core technology elements. The
toolmakers at Sango Bay used local raw materials, suggesting they were not highly
mobile in terms of raw materials. Conclusively, therefore, the Sangoan is a
transitional lithic industry.
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