Techno – Typological Analysis of Middle Stone Age lithic assemblages from Kibish Formation, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia
TECHNO-TYPOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF MIDDLE STONE AGE LITHIC ASSEMBLAGES FROM KIBISH FORMATION, LOWER OMO VALLEY ETHIOPIA
BY: Yosef Tefera, MA in Middle Stone age Archaeology, EHA
This research investigates into the lithic assemblages from the Kibish (KIB) sites, utilizing a techno-typological classification approach to enhance our understanding of early hominin behaviors and tool-making strategies. This study focuses on artifacts gathered from four notable sites within the Kibish Formation, Members namely KHS, PHS, AHS, and BNS. The KHS site stands out due to its reliable chronology and the discovery of the Omo I and Omo II hominin crania. Through the analysis of over 545 lithic artifacts, I aim to unravel the intricacies of early hominin technology, emphasizing material selection and production techniques.
Methodology
Carried out during the 2022 fieldwork season, this analysis involved detailed examination of lithic assemblages housed at the Ethiopian Heritage Authority’s Laboratory. By employing techno-typological classification methods, I sorted artifacts from different stratigraphic layers tool type and technological classification based on established criteria by different former researchers and using chaine Operatoire method operational sequence. Categorizing Technology and tool type such as core and flake analysis, as well as examinations of quantitative information, dimensions were used to provide a comprehensive view of the attributes of MSA.
The Key Findings, Technological Diversity, and Analysis
The Kibish assemblage reveals a remarkable diversity of tools, including bifacial and unifacial side scrapers, Levallois flakes, cores, and blades. The analysis indicates that while bifacial and unifacial scrapers predominate, Levallois artifacts are notably few. This suggests a complex cultural landscape where hominins demonstrated adaptability and innovation in their tool-making opportunistic flake and the whole processes. In the Kibish Formation Tools predominantly crafted from locally sourced chert and basalt reflect sophisticated adaptations to the Late Pleistocene environment. The clear preference for these materials underscores a strategic approach to resource management while hinting at the lifestyle of Kibish hominins, who likely engaged in seasonal movements based around resource availability. With a focus on cores and flakes, the analysis identified 45 cores exhibiting various reduction techniques. While Levallois cores were observed, their limited presence may denote strategic choices based on the available materials only in the area we covered during 2022 fieldwork season. Flake production techniques reveal extensive skill in crafting tools for immediate use, highlighting the efficiency and resourcefulness of these early human populations also this open chance to practice more on the production area to have more refined tool, by settling one permanent area like Savanna grass land in Kibish low land areas.
The Kibish, Techno-Typological Characteristics
The Kibish created artifacts such as scrapers, bifacial and unifacial flakes, point’s blades, bladelets, levallois flake tools, cores, blanks, and other. The analyzed discoveries presented the technological diversity and adaptability of the KIB MSA Hominin, suggesting that these tools served multiple functions or were used for various tasks. The diversity tells the complexity of their technological strategies and their ability to efficiently utilize available local resources.
Raw Materials
The production of lithic in the KIB dominantly relied on chert and basalt, chert being the most commonly used material for stone tools from locally available sources. While smaller amounts of other kinds of quartzite, rhyolite, jasper, and cryptocrystalline materials were also present in the assemblage, the preference for chert and basalt was a clear technological choice made by MSA hominin in KIB. Evidence from the 2021–2022 survey indicated that chert appeared as pebbles, cobbles, on the outcrops, while basaltic cobbles and pebbles were located in alluvial deposits & lacustrine sediments near the lower Omo valley Paleo River within the KIB. Utilizing locally available raw materials reflects a sophisticated adaptation to the surrounding landscape and environmental conditions during the Late Pleistocene. The resource selection also suggests that the Kibish hominin or societies were highly adjusted and survived to the challenges posed by environmental fluctuations.
Why This Study matter, and conclusion
By comparing findings from Kibish with other MSA sites like Gademotta and Porc Epic, we observe both similarities and distinctions in raw materials and Levallois lithic technology. While Kibish predominantly employed local materials, other sites demonstrated a broader variety of resources, showcasing the refined strategies of different prehistoric populations even technologically bigger in size & shape difference. The sophisticated assemblage of tools points to a potentially sedentary lifestyle among Kibish hominins, who likely developed complex resource management strategies. These insights not only highlight their adaptability to changing environments but also emphasize the necessity for continued archaeological exploration in the region to gain deeper understanding of their societal dynamics. This investigation into the lithic assemblages of the Kibish Formation provides a critical window into the lives of Middle Stone Age hominins. Through the analysis of diverse tool technologies, material preferences, and cultural implications, we inch closer to unraveling the complexities of early human behavior and adaptability. As excavations and Survey continue, we look forward to unveiling further insights into this fascinating chapter of human evolution, reinforcing the importance of Kibish as a central site for understanding the trajectory of modern humans.
OpenEdition vous propose de citer ce billet de la manière suivante :
Secrétaire Scientifique (16 février 2026). Techno – Typological Analysis of Middle Stone Age lithic assemblages from Kibish Formation, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia. UN ŒIL SUR LA CORNE / AN EYE ON THE HORN. Consulté le 5 mars 2026 à l’adresse https://doi.org/10.58079/15p1q



