220,000-Year-Old Jojosi Stone Quarry in South Africa Rewrites Early Human History

The recent unearthing of a 220,000-year-old stone quarry at the Jojosi site in eastern South Africa marks a pivotal moment in understanding early human ingenuity. Researchers from prominent South African institutions, including the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) and the University of Johannesburg (UJ), have played crucial roles in this international collaboration. Their contributions not only illuminate sophisticated tool production strategies among Middle Stone Age hominins but also underscore the leadership of South African higher education in global paleoarchaeology.

This discovery challenges long-held assumptions that early humans opportunistically gathered stones during foraging trips. Instead, evidence points to deliberate, repeated visits to specialized locations for high-quality raw materials, reflecting advanced planning and resource management far earlier than previously documented.

Context of the Middle Stone Age in South Africa 🛠️

The Middle Stone Age (MSA), spanning roughly 300,000 to 30,000 years ago, represents a transformative period in human evolution. In South Africa, this era is richly documented through sites like Blombos Cave and Klasies River, where evidence of symbolic behavior, heat-treated tools, and marine resource use emerged. Universities such as Wits and UCT have long been at the forefront, training generations of archaeologists and hosting world-class labs for artifact analysis.

South Africa's unique geological diversity provided ideal conditions for stone tool experimentation. Hornfels, a tough metamorphic rock prized for its knapping properties, features prominently in MSA assemblages. The Jojosi findings extend this narrative inland to open-air settings in KwaZulu-Natal's dongas—deep erosion gullies exposing ancient rock layers.

Uncovering the Jojosi Quarry

The Jojosi Dongas, first noted in surveys decades ago, gained renewed attention through the interdisciplinary Jojosi Project initiated in 2022. Led by Manuel Will, who holds affiliations with both the University of Tübingen and UJ's Palaeo-Research Institute, the team employed drones, pedestrian surveys, and targeted excavations at sites like Jojosi 1, 5, 6, and 7.

Surface scatters revealed millions of lithic artifacts per cubic meter, dominated by hornfels debris. Excavations yielded stratified layers with production waste, hammerstones, and cores, but strikingly absent were finished tools, hearths, or faunal remains—hallmarks of living sites.

Advanced Techniques Reveal Knapping Sequences

Central to the analysis were refitting studies by Gunther H.D. Möller from Tübingen. Over 350 fragments formed 123 refit sets, reconstructing the step-by-step reduction process: surface removal, core shaping, and blank export. These '3D puzzles' illustrated how hominins tested blocks for quality before transporting semi-finished products elsewhere.

• High refit rates (15.6%) confirm minimal post-depositional disturbance.
• Hammerstones and platform preparation scars indicate skilled, multi-stage knapping.
• Neglect of nearby dolerite or quartzite highlights selective procurement of superior hornfels.

South African geologists like Greg A. Botha from Wits' Evolutionary Studies Institute contributed contextual analysis of Pleistocene landscape formation.

Luminescence Dating Confirms Antiquity

Svenja Riedesel's luminescence dating on feldspar grains, using post-IR IRSL protocols, provided robust chronologies. Bayesian modeling yielded ages: Jojosi 6 at 220,000 years ago (201–258 ka), persisting to Jojosi 1 at 110,000 years ago (106–139 ka).

This ~100,000-year span demonstrates generational knowledge transmission, with communities returning across climatic shifts. Such precision, honed in SA university labs, elevates local expertise in optically stimulated luminescence (OSL).

Implications for Early Human Cognition

Previously, embedded procurement—gathering stones en route to food quests—dominated models for Paleolithic societies. Jojosi evidences direct procurement: purposeful treks to extract and process materials, implying landscape knowledge, logistical planning, and risk assessment.

Matt Lotter, Senior Lecturer at Wits' School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, notes: "The Jojosi research shows that humans were deliberate about their sourcing behaviors. This implies clear planning and intentionality." Such behaviors root in Middle Pleistocene Homo sapiens, reshaping timelines for technological sophistication.

South African Universities Driving Discovery

Wits and UJ anchor South Africa's paleo-research ecosystem. Wits' Evolutionary Studies Institute and School of Geography host cutting-edge labs for refitting and use-wear analysis. Aurore Val, affiliated with Wits, bridges international teams.

UJ's Palaeo-Research Institute, where lead author Manuel Will collaborates, curates vast MSA collections. These institutions secure grants from NRF and DSI, funding fieldwork that positions SA as a human origins hub. Student involvement in Jojosi excavations fosters hands-on training in multidisciplinary archaeology.

Training the Next Generation of Archaeologists

Programs at Wits (BSc Archaeology) and UJ (BA Heritage Studies) integrate Jojosi-like projects. Undergrads learn GIS mapping, 3D scanning, and ethical excavation, while postgrads tackle theses on MSA lithics.

UKZN contributes through Aron Mazel's legacy work on KZN rock art, complementing open-air studies. These curricula emphasize decolonizing archaeology, incorporating indigenous knowledge alongside scientific methods.

• Field schools in Cradle of Humankind prepare for sites like Jojosi.
• Internships at Iziko Museums build curatorial skills.
• PhD opportunities focus on behavioral ecology.

Broader Impacts on Higher Education

This breakthrough bolsters SA's research output, with Wits ranking top in African archaeology per QS metrics. It attracts global collaborations, funding, and talent, enhancing university profiles.

Educational outreach includes public lectures and VR reconstructions, inspiring STEM interest. For faculty, it opens doors to high-impact publications, vital for NRF ratings.

Future Directions and Challenges

Geochemical sourcing will trace hornfels blanks to consumption sites, mapping mobility networks. Climate modeling integrates with dongas formation for paleoecology.

Challenges persist: funding cuts threaten fieldwork; open-air sites erode rapidly. SA universities advocate for heritage protection amid development.

Prospects shine with new tech like LiDAR for dongas surveys, promising more MSA insights.

Careers in Paleoarchaeology at SA Institutions

Jojosi exemplifies opportunities: postdocs at Wits analyze refits; lecturers at UJ supervise excavations. Skills in luminescence, knapping replication transfer to cultural resource management.

• Entry: BSc Archaeology (Wits/UJ).
• Mid: MA fieldwork coordinator.
• Senior: Professor leading NRF centers.

South Africa's 'Cradle' status ensures demand, blending academia, museums, and tourism.

Photo by Spekboom on Unsplash

The Jojosi quarry, through SA universities' stewardship, redefines early human agency. Wits and UJ researchers exemplify how local expertise drives paradigm shifts, educating future scholars while preserving Africa's evolutionary legacy. As excavations continue, expect revelations deepening our shared origins story.