Wilton

Microlithic Later Stone Age industry with its type site in a rock shelter in Cape Province, South Africa and found in other parts of eastern and southern Africa. It is the African equivalent of the Mesolithic cultures of Europe, though of later date, and in its final stage shows contact with the Iron Age farmers of the 1st millennium AD. It occurred over the last 8000 years. In the rock shelter area, the characteristic tool is the tiny convex or 'thumbnail' scraper; crescent-shaped backed microliths, adzes, and backed blades are also present. There is rock painting, plant remains, and faunal remains of non-gregarious browsing antelope as well as evidence of fishing. Around the beginning of the Christian era the descendants of the Wilton folk acquired domestic sheep and possibly cattle and learned the art of pottery manufacture (called post-climax Wilson or ceramic Wilton).

The name Wilton has in the past been applied somewhat indiscriminately to many backed microlith industries in sub-Saharan Africa. It derives from a small rock shelter on a farm near Alicedale in the Cape Province of South Africa, but industries from as far northwest as Nigeria and as far north-east as Somalia, have, misleadingly, been designated ‘Wilton’. The term is still in fairly regular use to denote microlithic industries from Zimbabwe and southern Zambia, but is generally regarded as best restricted to those of the southernmost latitudes of the continent. The Wilton rock shelter provides a clear demonstration of the development, florescence and decline of the eponymous stone industry during the course of the last 6000 years be. In this area the most characteristic implement type is the tiny semi-circular or ‘thumb-nail’ scraper; crescent-shaped backed microliths are also present but are significantly less frequent. The faunal remains associated with Wilton industries often show a preference for small non-gregarious creatures, generally those which frequent an environment with fairly dense vegetation. Shellfish and other marine foods were also favoured. A wide variety of vegetable species was exploited for food and for other purposes. Especially in the western Cape, and also in Lesotho, it has been possible to demonstrate a seasonal cycle of settlement. Around the beginning of the Christian era or shortly thereafter the descendants of the Wilton folk acquired domestic sheep and possibly cattle and learned the art of pottery manufacture.