Kasteelberg: A Pastoralist Sealing Camp in Western Cape Province, South Africa

摘要

The occupants of the herding site of Kasteelberg, located 4 km from the coast, focused on harvesting seals that appear to have been an important source of fat. The site was most likely used as a seasonal ceremonial aggregation place, and use of fat mixed with ochre as body adornment was a form of conspicuous consumption among African herders, including the historic Khoekhoen ("Hottentots'') of the Cape. At Kasteelberg, access to marine mammal fat was an attractive alternative to the butter-fat more commonly used for such body decoration. The debate on what might be the more accurate indicators of seasonal occupation using seal data is discussed, and two periods, in May and October, would seem to be the best with other seasonal indicators of sheep breeding.