Nachikufan

Backed microlith industries of northern Zambia of the Later Stone Age, named after Nachikufu Cave. The complex, once regarded as a single local tradition (Nachikufan Industrial Complex), was of long duration and divided into three successive phases. The first phase, Nachikufan I, is now seen as a widespread industry, characterized by the presence of large numbers of small pointed backed bladelets, of early date; it extends back as early as c 20,000 BP at such sites as Kalemba and Leopard's Hill, till 12,000 BP. There were also various scrapers and examples of bored stones. The later phases are more restricted geographically and form part of a general continuum of variation among the backed-microlith industries of south-central Africa during the last 7-8 millennia BC.

A term describing the backed microlith industries of northern Zambia, with those of some adjacent regions, formerly regarded as forming a distinct complex, of long duration, divided into three successive phases. These Nachikufan industries, named after a large cave near Mpika, were differentiated from their Wilton contemporaries in other areas on the basis of the large numbers of scrapers they contained, and the relative scarcity of backed microliths. They were held to represent an adaptation to the woodland environment of the central African plateau. Recent research has challenged this interpretation. The first phase, Nachikufan I, is now seen as a widespread industry, characterized by the presence of large numbers of small backed blades, of early date; it extends back as early as cl9,000 be at such sites as Kalemba and Leopard’s hill. The later phases are more restricted geographically, and form part of a general continuum of variation among the backed-microlith industries of south-central Africa during the last seven or eight millennia be.