Precious Chiwara-Maenzanise
Geochemical Provenance of Stone Tools
Nationality
Zimbabwean
Qualifications
BA, BA Special Honours, MA (Archaeology): University of Zimbabwe
PhD: University of Cape Town
Affiliations
Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Department of Geological Sciences, Human Evolution Research Institute (HERI)
ASAPA, SAfA, WAC
1. Describe your specialisation and what a typical "day in the field/lab" looks like for you?
My specialization focuses on the geochemical provenance of stone tools, particularly quartzite artefacts from the Earlier and Middle Stone Age. I use geochemical techniques to identify where the stone used by early humans to make stone tools originated and to understand how people selected and transported raw materials across the landscape. A typical day in the field involves surveying quartzite outcrops, recording their locations, documenting their characteristics, and collecting rock samples for analysis. These samples are then compared with archaeological artefacts to investigate ancient mobility, resource use, and technological behaviour.
2. What technical, analytical, or digital skills are important for this field?
My work draws on both archaeology and geology. Important skills include archaeological survey and excavation methods, lithic analysis, geological field sampling, rock identification, and geochemical techniques such as ICP-MS and XRF. Statistical analysis is also essential for interpreting geochemical data, identifying patterns in the results, and matching stone tools to their geological sources. It is also important to understand how stone tools are produced and how different rock types vary in quality and suitability for toolmaking. Bringing together archaeological and geological evidence is a key part of the research process.
3. What qualifications, internships, or specialised training helped you break into this field?
I completed a BA, BA Special Honours, and MA in Archaeology at the University of Zimbabwe, followed by a PhD in Archaeology at the University of Cape Town. My postgraduate studies provided a strong foundation in stone tool analysis and human evolution research. As a postdoctoral researcher, I joined the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Cape Town, where I received specialised training in geochemical techniques and laboratory methods. This training allowed me to combine archaeology and geological sciences to investigate the sources of stone tools and past human behaviour.
4. How does your work change or enhance our understanding of the past in a way that 'general archaeology' might miss?
My work helps us understand how early humans selected and acquired the stone used to make tools. By identifying the geological sources of raw materials, I can reconstruct patterns of mobility, resource use, and landscape knowledge. This provides insights into how people planned their movements, accessed high-quality stone, and adapted to changing environments. It adds an important dimension to archaeological research by connecting stone tools to the landscapes from which they originated.
5. What are some unique challenges and rewards of this field?
One of the main challenges is identifying the exact geological sources of archaeological stone tools, which requires extensive field surveys, geological sampling, laboratory analysis, and statistical interpretation of geochemical data. Working across archaeology and geology can also be demanding because it requires knowledge from both disciplines. As a Black woman working in a highly specialised area of archaeological science and geochemistry, I am also part of a group that remains underrepresented in these fields. The reward is being able to contribute new knowledge about past human behaviour while helping to increase diversity and representation within the discipline.
6. What is one resource or habit a student should adopt if they want to step into this field?
Build a strong foundation in archaeology while also developing skills in geology and laboratory science. Gain as much field and research experience as possible through excavations, surveys, and student research projects. If you are interested in provenance studies, learn about lithic analysis, geochemistry, and statistics, as these are important tools for interpreting data. Seek out mentors, read widely, and be open to interdisciplinary research. For students from underrepresented backgrounds, remember that your perspective is valuable and that archaeology and geoscience benefit from greater diversity and inclusion.
