Abstract:
Open-air sites are ubiquitous signatures on most archaeological landscapes. When they are appropriately
recorded, well-preserved and are single-component occupations, they provide access to high-resolution
occupation data that is often not available from rock-shelter sites. These sites are, however, commonly
affected by a number of post-depositional factors that are not adequately studied in archaeology. This
paper presents the results of an open-air experiment conducted in northeastern Botswana. Two surface
scatters modelled on known Bushman open-air camp sites were created to investigate the taphonomic
factors affecting such sites. The scattered materials at these sites included stone tools, ostrich eggshell
fragments, ceramic sherds, glass beads and faunal remains. Two scatters were laid out consisting of a nested
square design; one site was excavated after four months and the other after twelve. The results show little
horizontal material movement at these scatters and an initial, rapid, vertical period of mobility, after which
the majority of surface artefacts are protected from subsequent movement, preserving the general scatter
structures. This experiment suggests that open-air sites can offer detailed spatial information relevant to
human settlement structure that is often not accessible at rock-shelter sites.
