Abstract:

South Africa, a pivotal area for early modern human activities, enjoys a diverse natural environment and is bordered by three coastlines, leading to unique subsistence adaptations. For example, the exploitation of animal resources has played a crucial role in human evolution. It not only provided essential nutrients and energy for individual growth but also drove the development of complex human behaviors through the acquisition and processing of these resources. Middle Stone Age zooarchaeological studies in South Africa have yielded significant findings, particularly regarding ungulate hunting, terrestrial tortoises collection, aquatic shellfish collection, and marine mammals exploitation. This paper reviews the practices of animal resource exploitation by early modern humans during the Middle Stone Age in South Africa, discussing their adaptive patterns and subsistence strategies in response to environmental conditions.

Terrestrial resources formed a crucial component of the subsistence strategies of early modern humans in South Africa. Large and medium-sized ungulates, as high-quality meat sources, were their primary hunting targets, though they occasionally shifted their focus to smaller ungulates. Notably, the exploitation of marine resources was the most distinctive subsistence behavior of these early modern humans. South Africa preserves the earliest records of marine resource exploitation in the world. The abundant shellfish resources were a significant driving force that prompted early modern humans to frequently visit the coast. During the process of exploiting marine resources, the cognitive abilities of early modern humans were significantly enhanced. In addition to understanding tidal patterns, they also had considerable knowledge of the habits of marine organisms. For example, they would collect shellfish that inhabited the rocky reefs during low tide to ensure the highest efficiency and return. Moreover, early modern humans were well aware of the seasonal changes in shellfish. As their understanding and ability to collect shellfish deepened, early modern humans gradually accumulated valuable experience, which was continuously enriched and developed through intergenerational transmission. This process not only enhanced their survival capabilities and adaptability but also allowed them to obtain more abundant and diverse food resources with lower risks and costs. Ultimately, the accumulation of this wisdom and experience became an important factor in driving human evolution.

In China, while zooarchaeological research is not as rich as that in South Africa, it reveals a clear pattern of subsistence preferences across various environmental settings, with adaptations to local conditions and the exploitation of animal resources. Recent findings in Guangxi show evidence of mollusca resources exploitation dating back to the Late Pleistocene. This paper provides a comprehensive review of Late Pleistocene zooarchaeological studies in China, suggesting that hominins had already begun to actively harness a variety of natural resources in their surroundings, with distinct subsistence patterns among ancient humans in different regions being evident. Given the intricate interplay between hominins and climates in China, it is important to conduct further zooarchaeological research to explore adaptive strategies within specific environmental contexts and to trace the evolution of human behavior.

Key words: South Africa, Middle Stone Age, modern human, zooarchaeology, subsistence