Aerial map demonstrates erosional patterns and changing topography at Isimila, Tanzania (with corrigendum)

Kersten Bergstrom; Austin B. Lawrence; Alex J. Pelissero; Lauren J. Hammond; Eliwasa Maro; Henry T. Bunn; Charles M. Musiba

doi:10.17159/sajs.2019/5911

Authors

Kersten Bergstrom Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9729-1913
Austin B. Lawrence Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5988-8495
Alex J. Pelissero Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8859-3423
Lauren J. Hammond Department of Anthropology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3077-4213
Eliwasa Maro Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Dodoma, Tanzania http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1236-6651
Henry T. Bunn Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6745-8038
Charles M. Musiba Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4297-5178

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2019/5911

Keywords:

Middle Pleistocene, East Africa, Acheulean/Acheulian, site topography, uncrewed/unmanned aerial vehicle, drone map

Abstract

Isimila is a Middle Pleistocene archaeological site located in southern Tanzania. The site is known for large surface assemblages of later Acheulean lithics such as hand axes, cleavers, scrapers and cores. While hominin remains have yet to be discovered at the site, Isimila offers a unique window into Middle Pleistocene Homo behaviour. Although Isimila has been studied extensively, the last published map of the site and surrounding area was made available in the 1970s. Here, we present an updated high-resolution map of Isimila. Data for the map were collected during aerial survey with an uncrewed(unmanned) aerial vehicle. With this map, we identified new archaeological localities, erosional patterns, newly exposed geological features and changes in site topography. The map demonstrates patterns of stone tool and raw material distribution that may support previous hypotheses of short-distance raw material transport into the area by hominins. This open-access map establishes a baseline for tracking changes to site topography in the future and serves as a unique tool to enable collaboration between researchers, museum personnel and local populations to better conserve Isimila.

Significance:

New potential archaeological localities and significant changes to erosional patterns at Isimila were identified.
The open access map and associated raw data provided enable researchers to track seasonal and erosional changes and anthropogenic effects, and to develop protocols for conservation of this unique site.

Open data set:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1470770