Archaeology Dig 2007: Holley Shelter (South Africa)

Dr. Molly Clark of West Virginia Wesleyan College will hold field school excavations at Holley Shelter in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa between July 28-August 24, 2007. Holley Shelter has a long sequence of Middle Stone Age deposits, which may date as long as 250,000 years ago. In addition to numerous stone tools, the faunal assemblage at Holley Shelter appears remarkably well preserved. Identifiable animal bone, including teeth, was recovered from even the deepest levels. The site is located on a private game reserve where students will be staying, in either the main lodge or in a private house.

After arrival in South Africa, students will attend two days of lectures on the archaeology of southern Africa and stone tool analysis before beginning four weeks of excavation. Students will learn archaeological excavation techniques, identification of artefacts, site mapping, plan and profile drawing, primary artefact conservation, cataloguing methods, lithic analysis, and stone tool replication. Students will be responsible for processing, identifying, and analysing all of the lithic material from their excavation unit.

• Holley Shelter Archaeological Field School, for more information
• Holley Shelter, report on the initial examination of the site by excavation leader Dr. Molly Clark
• Field Schools in Africa
• Archaeological Field Schools 2007 Season
• Archaeology of South Africa
• What is a Field School, Anyway?

Dr. Clark sent along this photograph of Holley Shelter, and if the scientific interest of the site isn't enough to get you to sign up, the incredible beauty of the place should.