Faunal and Lithic Artifacts from Kathu Pan for Geochemical Analysis of Patina

Both the lithic (28 samples, see provenience information below) and faunal (5 samples from Kathu Pan 1 Beaumont Excavation (museum #6538, Square Z23, Spit 340-350) samples to be exported will be part of a geochemical analysis of the Kathu Pan site, to understand the diagenetic processes affecting the appearance and preservation of artifacts. Some of the fauna and lithics recovered from the Kathu Pan site exhibit a rare phenomenon whereby a glossy silica rind has developed on them. Additionally, some of the lithics appear to have undergone intense chemical dissolution and mineral replacement of their silicate component. These phenomena are likely linked to the water chemistry and changing environmental conditions of the Kathu Pan site through time. The geochemical analysis of the selected specimens will be used to investigate these phenomena in an effort to understand the conditions required for their occurrence. This will also tie into the sedimentological and palaeoenvironmental analysis of the site as it will give us an indication of water chemistry and will add to our understanding of post-depositional processes occurring on site.

The faunal and lithic specimens selected for analysis will be analyzed using an SEM and electron microprobe (SEM-EPMA), as well as FTIR. With the SEM and SEM-EPMA, we will be able to both visually and quantitatively assess the morphology of the silica in the lithics and the silica rinds coating both the fauna and the lithics, as well as investigate the sites where the silica rind binds to the lithics and fauna. FTIR will be used to investigate any amorphous silica in the specimens as SEM-EPMA works best on crystalline structures.

Lithic Samples

Site Date ID# Pt. ID. SQ Type Feature Notes
KP6 2/8/2023 L2709 2479 O5 Lithic WM O5
KP6 1/8/2023 L2587 2336 Q4 Lithic BTN
KP6 4/8/2023 L3068 2875 O5 Lithic PS Cos and WDS Cos
KP6 3/8/2023 L2786 2564 R4 Lithic BTN
KP6 24/7/2023 L1575 988 O5 Lithic PS
KP6 31/07/2023 L2504 2240 R4 Lithic BTN
KP6 4/8/2023 L3037 2843-2844 O5 Lithic PS Cos and WDS Cos
KP6 2/8/2023 L2690 2458 O5 Lithic BSS O5
KP6 1/8/2023 L2626 2382 O5 Lithic WDS O5
KP6 1/8/2023 L2657 2418-2419 Q4 Lithic BTN
KP6 3/8/2023 L2809 2587 O5 Lithic WDSL O5 and PSC O5
KP6 3/8/2023 L2892 2678 O5 Lithic PSC O5 and WDSC O5
KP6 3/8/2023 L2821 2600 R4 Lithic BTN
KP6 4/8/2023 L2984 2785 Q9D Lithic WL
KP6 4/8/2023 L3083 2895 O5(O4) Lithic WM 2O5
KP6 2/8/2023 L2767 2538 O5 Lithic WM O5
KP6 3/8/2023 L2863 2645 P4 Lithic BTS
KP6 1/8/2023 L2605 2359 R4 Lithic BTN
KP6 4/8/2023 L2989 2790 Q9D Lithic WL
KP6 3/8/2023 L2823 2602 Q9D Lithic WM
KP6 3/8/2023 L2812 2590 O5 Lithic PS Cos and WDS Cos
KP6 4/8/2023 L3110 2928 O5(O4) Lithic WM 2O5 Silica rind present
KP6 26/7/2023 G1912 1453-1454 P8B Lithic BM
KP1 23/7/2016 Spit 3 3658 W13 Lithic Brown Sands Silica rind present