Dr Precious Chiwara-Maenzanise

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Research

Interests: Earlier and Middle Stone Age, Lithic technology and Geochemical analysis of lithic artifacts

My work focusses on identifying behavioural differences between Earlier Stone Age (ESA) and Middle Stone Age (MSA) hominins in South Africa. I investigate raw material procurement strategies in the Tswalu Reserve in the southern Kalahari. I use geochemistry to contrast ESA and MSA quartzite lithic assemblages to assess whether there was increased selectivity of raw materials over time. Additionally, I identify the exact sources of these quartzite raw materials within the Tswalu Korannaberg Range, contributing to our understanding of hominin mobility patterns within the Kalahari Basin.

Latest Publications

More publications on: Google Scholar

  1. Chiwara-Maenzanise, P. and Wilkins, J., 2024. Africa, South: Earlier Stone Age.

  • HERI Advancing women PhD Grant,
  • French Research Institute (IFAS) PhD Grant,
  • GENUS DSI Centre of Excellence in Palaeosciences PhD and Postdoc Awards
  • Palaeontological scientific Trust (PAST) Postdoc Award.

Education

  • PhD Archaeology, UCT (2024)
  •  MA, Archaeology University of Zimbabwe (2018)
  • BA (Hons) Archaeology, University of Zimbabwe (2015)