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Flat bones and shale implements have been recovered from archaeological contexts dated to the Later Stone Age from the site of Matjes River in the southern Cape of South Africa. However, their use has remained speculative. One of the interpretations that have been considered is that these flat bones were used as “palettes” for the grinding of ochre, possibly for the preparation of paint. However, in this research it is proposed that these “palettes” could have been used as clappers for music or sound production. The analysis included morphological analysis, an experimental approach and microscopic use-wear analysis of both the archaeological pieces and the experimental pieces. Microscopic use-wear analysis was conducted on the archaeological pieces to look for any ochre residues and any other use-wear signatures. This was done to test the earlier hypothesis that the palettes could have been used for ochre processing. The assumption is that if the palettes were used for pigment preparation the probability of finding ochre/paint residues on them is high. Some shale palettes have ochre residues, but none was found on the bone palettes. Experimental bone clappers were made from an eland rib, then analysed microscopically to compare the experimental use-wear results with the use-wear patterning on the archaeological pieces. Results indicated that the replicas developed minimal shiny polish and the archaeological bone clappers also have minimal polish, but it is difficult to tell whether the bone palettes were used as clappers since they have other taphonomic features like pitting, cracks and manganese stains that are superimposing the polish.

Idiophones or Palettes? An Analysis of Flat Bone and Shale Implements from Matjes River Site, Southern Cape of South Africa