Initially discovered in 1894, the Fauresmith was first recognized as a distinct stone tool industry in 1923, and officially named in 1926. It was typified by very fine, small, neat almond shaped handaxes reminiscent of the Micoquian, which were made on flakes. By 1956 it was placed in the First Intermediate, between the Earlier and Middle Stone Ages. It has variously been explained by reference to raw material, activity, culture, and mixing but by 1965 its very reality was challenged and the term was ‘officially’ abandoned. Recent work at the Wonderwerk site, in the Northern Cape, has suggested stratified Fauresmith dated by U-series to between 276±29 and >350 kya. It is now questionable as to whether the Fauresmith exists or not; work attempting to answer this is presently underway.
Sources
Beaumont, P.B., & Vogel, J.C. 2006. On a Timescale for the Past Million Years of Human History in Central South Africa. South African Journal of Science 102: 217-28.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
