Abstract
Kuidas Spring 1 is a site within the larger Kuidas Spring Later Stone
Age site complex, comprising a number of stone circles, several cairns
and small shelters. Following recent small-scale excavations of a stone
circle, rock shelter and cairn, we report on the first dates and artefact
analyses from the site.We show that the shelter was occupied between
~2300 and 1500 years ago, and that people used the circle from ~900
years ago until recently. The cairn and most recent use of the circle
appear to be roughly contemporary. Analysis of our limited lithic
samples reveals both similarities and differences between the shelter
and circle occupations. Small numbers of thin-walled pottery and
copper fragments were retrieved from the circle only, while faunal
remains from both the shelter and circle are restricted to wild species.
Based on these findings, interpretations of changing behaviour over
time are premature. It is clear, however, that Kuidas Spring 1 represented
an important resource for groups of people living in this arid
landscape.