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TUKUL 1: African Prehistory

Gotera

The site

In southern Ethiopia, between the River Sagan and the city of Tartalé, the ancient Lake Gotera has left alluvial levels in which a number of lithic industries, mainly on quartz, have been found by Cl. Guillemot 1974.
During three missions (1976-1979) J. Chavaillon and J. L. Boisaubert performed prospecting in nine different localities.

The industry, which was studied by N. Chavaillon, may be attributed to the Middle Stone Age.

Stratigraphy

The stratigraphy consists of fluvio-lacustrine deposits with an apparent thickness of 12 m. Some ten or so levels have been observed with pebbles, gravel and sand alternating with compact clay and silt.

Location of the Gotera site

Fauna

The fauna collected is referable to lacustrine riparian or flooded grassland environment. Although it was not possible to determine whether they were utilized as food, some 15 species have been identified: these include a small jackal (Herpestes sp.), a hedgehog (Atelerix), a rodent (Muridae), a hare (Lepus capensis), Equids, Bovids (including a mandible of Redunca), gazelles, birds, a colubrid.

Lithic industry

The industry is represented by some 800 more or less contemporary artifacts.

Flakes

Core

Chopper

Small choppers and polyhedrons have also been found. Retouched artifacts on flake are represented by points, end-scrapers, burins, backed knives, notched and denticulated tools.

Also three small leaf-shaped pieces were found.

The resemblance between the Gotera industry and level B of Gademotta, in the vicinity of lake Zuwai, would seem to link Gotera with the Middle Stone Age cultures of East Africa.

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

A. Berthelet, G. M. Bulgarelli, J. Chavaillon, M. Piperno (eds) 2001, Melka Kunture. The Guide, Finiguerra Arti Grafiche, Lavello, Potenza.

N. Chavaillon, J. Chavaillon 1985, Gotera. Un site paléolithique récent d’Ethiopie. Éditions Recherche sur les Civilisations, Paris.