Evidence of hunting and hafting during the Middle Stone Age at Sibidu Cave, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a multianalytical approach Marlize Lombard a,b, ) a Natal Museum, Private Bag x9070, Pietermaritzburg 3200, South Africa b The University of Natal, Private Bag x01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa Received 9 January 2004; accepted 23 November 2004 Abstract Points and point fragments from Middle Stone Age layers (dated to between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago) from Sibudu Cave, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, were examined to establish whether they were used as hafted spearheads for hunting. A multi-analytical approach was followed, using macrofracture analysis, use-wear analysis, and residue analysis. In addition to the analytical processes, an experimental project tested the results of the macrofracture analysis on local raw materials. The study shows that points from Sibudu Cave were indeed hafted and used as hunting tools. It was further established that plant twine was probably the preferred binding material to attach the points to wooden hafts. Resin may have been used as an adhesive in combination with the binding material. A detailed examination of the ochre distribution on the points confirmed that ochre was also part of the hafting arrangement. The need to use a dependable methodology for the recognition of hunting and hafting traces on stone points from the southern African Middle Stone Age context is briefly discussed. Ó 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Middle stone age lithic points; South Africa; Hafting; Hunting; Macrofracture analysis; Use-wear analysis; Residue analysis; Ochre Introduction Lithic points are among the most recognizable Middle Stone Age (MSA) artifacts in southern Africa. In spite of this, little work in this region has focused on their function. Circumstantial evidence for hunting with a hafted stone-tipped spear (during Oxygen Isotope Stage 5) is provided by the quartz fragment found lodged in the vertebra of a Pelorovis antiquus (extinct giant buffalo) specimen recovered from Cave 1 at Klasies River ) Natal Museum, Department of Archaeology, Private Bag x9070, Pietermaritzburg 3200, South Africa. E-mail address: mlombard@nmsa.org.za 0047-2484/$ - see front matter Ó 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2004.11.006 Journal of Human Evolution 48 (2005) 279e300