HOLOCENE CLIMATIC-CHANGE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA - THE CONTRIBUTION OF MICROMAMMALS TO ITS STUDY

Various methods of eliciting climatic information from micromammalian remains recovered from archaeological sites in Southern Africa are outlined. These make use of individual, population and community attributes, and ecological and biological information. The nature of the evidence is discussed, and the problems and potential of this type of data are assessed. The interpretation of micromammalian data from 28 sites located in five different biomes indicates that there has been variation in amount and possibly seasonality of rainfall during the Holocene. Temperature data are less secure but it is likely that these too will be forthcoming as the data base improves.