Some combustion features at Sibudu, South Africa, between 65,000 and 58,000 years ago

Small, discrete hearths and large combustion features occur between 65,000 and 58,000 years ago at Sibudu. Some hearths have concave bases, but most are flat. There are no stone foundations or surrounds. The hearths are generally well-preserved with white ash tops, black centres and rubefied bases. Bone fragments, lithics and other cultural items are normally intermixed around hearths and specific activities cannot usually be distinguished. However, this is not always the case, and ochre powder production is associated with some hearths, while others seem to have been used for site maintenance.