Sheila Dawn Coulson

Associate Professor Emeritus
Image of Sheila Dawn Coulson
Norwegian version of this page
Phone +47-22841906
Username
Visiting address IAKH Arkeologiseksjonen Blindernveien 11 0371 Oslo
Postal address Arkeologiseksjonen Postboks 1019 Blindern 0315 OSLO

Academic Qualifications

  • BA (Honours) Archaeology, (Simon Fraser University, Canada, 1971);
  • MA: Anthropology (Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania, USA, 1974);
  • PhD: Prehistoric Archaeology (Lithic Technology) The Middle Palaeolithic Industries of Great Britain. (Institute of Ar­chaeology, Univer­sity of London, 1982).

 

Research Expertise

My research focuses upon lithic technology and associated human behaviour patterns determined through the application of a methodological and analytical approach called the chaîne opératoire. By refitting manufacturing waste, and replicating the series of actions required for production of a tool, it is possible to trace individual behaviour sequences and follow the selection processes of our most ancient ancestors. 

This research has centred on the wide variety of stone types selected for manufacture and their variations and individual characteristics that would have been of importance for the ancient stone tool manufacturer. My research has been conducted in Canada, England, France, Norway, Greenland, South Africa and, for over the past two decades, Botswana. 

Tags: Archaeology, Stone Age, Ethnoarchaeology

Publications

Coulson, Sheila, and Claus Andreasen  (2020). Uncovering their tracks: Intra-site behaviour at a Paleo-Inuit multiple dwelling site. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 58C, 1-20.

Coulson, S., Segadika, P., Walker, N. (2016). Ritual in the Hunter-Gatherer/Early Pastoralist Period: Evidence from Tsodilo Hills, Botswana. African Archaeological Review 33, 205-222.

Nash, D., Coulson, S., Staurset, S., Ullyott, S., Babutsi, M., Smith, M. (2016). Going the distance: mapping mobility in the Kalahari Desert during the Middle Stone Age through multi-site geochemical provenancing of silcrete artefacts. Journal of Human Evolution 96, 113–133.

Staurset, S., & Coulson, S. (2014). Sub-surface movement of stone artefacts at White Paintings Shelter, Tsodilo Hills, Botswana: Implications for the Middle Stone Age chronology of central southern Africa. Journal of Human Evolution, 75, 153-165.

Nash, D. J., Coulson, S., Staurset, S., Ullyott, J. S., Babutsi, M., Hopkinson, L., & Smith, M. P. (2013). Provenancing of silcrete raw materials indicates long-distance transport to Tsodilo Hills, Botswana, during the Middle Stone Age. Journal of Human Evolution, 64(4), 280-288.

Coulson, Sheila Dawn; Staurset, Sigrid & Walker, Nick (2011). Ritualized Behavior in the Middle Stone Age: Evidence from Rhino Cave, Tsodilo Hills, Botswana. PaleoAnthropology.  ISSN 1545-0031.  pp. 18-61  (Local PDF of paper without high resolution photos)

 

  • Staurset, Sigrid; Coulson, Sheila; Mothulatshipi, Sarah; Sallie L., Burrough; Nash, David J. & David S.G., Thomas (2023). Post-depositional disturbance and spatial organization at exposed open-air sites: examples from the Middle Stone Age of the Makgadikgadi Basin, Botswana. Quaternary Science Reviews. ISSN 0277-3791. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107824. Full text in Research Archive
  • Staurset, Sigrid; Coulson, Sheila; Mothulatshipi, Sarah; Burrough, Sallie L.; Nash, David J. & Thomas, David S.G. (2023). Making Points: The Middle Stone Age lithic industry of the Makgadikgadi Basin, Botswana. Quaternary Science Reviews. ISSN 0277-3791. 301. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107823.
  • Coulson, Sheila; Staurset, Sigrid; Mothulatshipi, Sarah; Burrough, Sallie L.; Nash, David J. & Thomas, David S.G. (2022). Thriving in the Thirstland: New Stone Age sites from the Middle Kalahari, Botswana. Quaternary Science Reviews. ISSN 0277-3791. 297. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107695. Full text in Research Archive
  • Nash, David J.; Ciborowski, T. Jake R.; Coulson, Sheila Dawn; Staurset, Sigrid; Burrough, Sallie L. & Mothulatshipi, Sarah [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2022). Mapping Middle Stone Age human mobility in the Makgadikgadi Pans (Botswana) through multi-site geochemical provenancing of silcrete artefacts. Quaternary Science Reviews. ISSN 0277-3791. 297. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107811.
  • Thomas, David S.G.; Burrough, Sallie L.; Coulson, Sheila Dawn; Mothulatshipi, Sarah; Nash, David J. & Staurset, Sigrid (2022). Lacustrine geoarchaeology in the central Kalahari: Implications for Middle Stone Age behaviour and adaptation in dryland conditions. Quaternary Science Reviews. ISSN 0277-3791. 297. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107826. Full text in Research Archive
  • Burrough, Sallie L.; Thomas, David S.G.; Allin, Joshua R.; Coulson, Sheila Dawn; Mothulatshipi, Sarah M. & Nash, David J. [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2022). Lessons from a lakebed: unpicking hydrological change and early human landscape use in the Makgadikgadi basin, Botswana. Quaternary Science Reviews. ISSN 0277-3791. 291. doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107662.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn & Andreasen, Claus (2020). Uncovering their tracks: Intra-site behaviour at a Paleo-Inuit multiple dwelling site. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology. ISSN 0278-4165. 58. doi: 10.1016/j.jaa.2020.101169.
  • Nash, David J.; Coulson, Sheila Dawn & Schmidt, Patrick (2019). Heat treatment of Kalahari and Cape silcretes: impacts upon silcrete chemistry and implications for geochemical provenancing. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. ISSN 1866-9557. doi: 10.1007/s12520-019-00947-9.
  • Schmidt, Patrick; Nash, David & Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2017). Heat treatment as a universal technical solution for silcrete use? A comparison between silcrete from the Western Cape (South Africa) and the Kalahari (Botswana). PLOS ONE. ISSN 1932-6203. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181586.
  • Watts, Ian; Chazan, Michael; Wilkins, Jayne; Barham, Larry & Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2016). Early Evidence for Brilliant Ritualized Display: Specularite Use in the Northern Cape (South Africa) between ∼500 and ∼300 Ka. Current Anthropology. ISSN 0011-3204. doi: 10.1086/686484.
  • Nash, David J.; Coulson, Sheila Dawn; Staurset, Sigrid; Ullyott, J. Stewart; Babutsi, Mosarwa & Smith, Martin P. (2016). Going the distance: Mapping mobility in the Kalahari Desert during the Middle Stone Age through multi-site geochemical provenancing of silcrete artefacts. Journal of Human Evolution. ISSN 0047-2484. 96, p. 113–133. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2016.05.004.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn; Segadika, Phillip & Walker, Nick (2016). Ritual in the Hunter-Gatherer/Early Pastoralist Period: Evidence from Tsodilo Hills, Botswana. African Archaeological Review. ISSN 0263-0338. p. 1–18. doi: 10.1007/s10437-016-9218-y.
  • Staurset, Sigrid & Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2014). Sub-surface movement of stone artefacts at White Paintings Shelter, Tsodilo Hills, Botswana: Implications for the Middle Stone Age chronology of central southern Africa. Journal of Human Evolution. ISSN 0047-2484. 75, p. 153–165. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2014.04.006.
  • Nash, David J.; Coulson, Sheila Dawn; Staurset, Sigrid; Smith, Martin P. & Ullyott, J. Stewart (2013). Provenancing silcrete in the Cape coastal zone: Implications for Middle Stone Age research in South Africa. Journal of Human Evolution. ISSN 0047-2484. 65, p. 682–688. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2013.07.006.
  • Nash, David; Coulson, Sheila Dawn; Staurset, Sigrid; Ullyott, J. Stewart; Babutsi, Mosarwa & Hopkinson, Laurence [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2013). Provenancing of silcrete raw materials indicates long-distance transport to Tsodilo Hills, Botswana, during the Middle Stone Age. Journal of Human Evolution. ISSN 0047-2484. 64(4), p. 280–288. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2013.01.010.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn; Staurset, Sigrid & Walker, Nick (2011). Ritualized Behavior in the Middle Stone Age: Evidence from Rhino Cave, Tsodilo Hills, Botswana. PaleoAnthropology. ISSN 1545-0031. p. 18–61.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2008). Comments on Laurel Phillipson’s Article “Reassessment of Selected Middle Stone Age Artefacts from Rhino Cave and from White Paintings Rock Shelter, Tsodilo Hills, Botswana” (South African Archaeological Bulletin 62 (185): 19–30). South African Archaeological Bulletin. ISSN 0038-1969. 63(188), p. 170–172.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn & Walker, N (2007). A Response: Signs of the Oldest Human Ritual in Botswana? The Digging Stick. ISSN 1013-7521. 24(1).
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2007). Response to “World’s Oldest Ritual Site? The ‘Python Cave’ at Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site, Botswana” by Lawrence H. Robbins, Alec C. Campbell, George A. Brook and Michael L. Murphy (2007, 68: 2-3). Nyame Akuma. ISSN 0713-5815. p. 2–3. Full text in Research Archive
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2005). Debatt: Kommentarer til: <<Form, estetikk og den arkeologiske gjenstanden>>. Primitive tider. ISSN 1501-0430. 8, p. 87–89.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2001). Book review of Flint Studier. En håndbog i systematiske analyser af flintinventarer by Berit Valentin Eriksen (ed). Aarhus Universitetsforlag, 2000. Norwegian Archaeological Review. ISSN 0029-3652. 34(2), p. 107–109.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn & Skar, Birgitte (1990). Introduction to the special section of five papers on the Second Flint Alternatives Workshop. Årbok / Universitetets oldsaksamling. ISSN 0333-130X.
  • Skar, Birgitte & Coulson, Sheila Dawn (1987). 'The Early Mesolithic Site of Rørmyr II. A re-examination of one of the Høgnipen Sites, SE Norway'. Acta Archaeologica. ISSN 0065-101X. 56, p. 167–183.
  • Boaz, Joel Spencer & Coulson, Sheila Dawn (1987). 'Recent Mesolithic-Neolithic Excavations in the Dokkfløy Region, Southeastern Norway'. Mesolithic miscellany. ISSN 0259-3548. 9(1), p. 1–5.
  • Skar, Birgitte & Coulson, Sheila Dawn (1987). 'Reply to Comments' by Christian Adamsen and Erik Brinch Petersen 'Comments on Evidence of Behaviour from Refitting'. Norwegian Archaeological Review. ISSN 0029-3652. 20(2), p. 122–124.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (1987). Book review of The Palaeolithic Settlement of Europe by Clive Gamble. Cambridge World Archaeology, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1986. Norwegian Archaeological Review. ISSN 0029-3652. 20(1), p. 57–58.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (1986). 'The Bout Coupe Handaxe as a Typological Mistake'. In Collcutt, S.N. (Eds.), The Palaeolithic of Britain and its Nearest Neighbousr: Recent Trends. Department of Archaeology and Prehistory, University of Sheffield. p. 53–55.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (1986). 'Refitted Flint Nodules from Songa, Telemark'. Årbok / Universitetets oldsaksamling. ISSN 0333-130X. p. 17–22.
  • Skar, Birgitte & Coulson, Sheila Dawn (1986). 'Evidence of Behaviour from Refitting - A Case Study'. Norwegian Archaeological Review. ISSN 0029-3652. 9(2), p. 90–102.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (1984). Book review of The Cambridge History of Africa. Vol 1. From the earliest times to c. 500 BC. Edited by J. Desmond Clark Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1982. Bulletin - Institute of Archaeology. ISSN 0076-0722. 21/22.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (1978). Book review of The Eskimos and Aleut by Don Dumond. Thames and Hudson, London, 1977. Bulletin - Institute of Archaeology. ISSN 0076-0722. 15, p. 266–267.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (1977). Book review of Lithic Technology. Making and Using Stone Tools edited by Earl Swanson. Papers from a Congress, Chicago, August, 1973. Bulletin - Institute of Archaeology. ISSN 0076-0722. 14, p. 237–238.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (1971). 'A Statistical Analysis of Cortex-Flake Tools from South Central British Columbia'. Aboriginal man and environments on the plateau of Northwest America. p. 17–26.

View all works in Cristin

  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2012). Dangerous and Divine The secret of the Serpent. KIT publishers. ISBN 9789460222047. 7 p.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (1990). Middle Palaeolithic Industries of Great Britain. Holos, Bonn. ISBN 3-926216-97-2. 4. 415 p.

View all works in Cristin

  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn & Staurset, Sigrid (2011). Middle Stone Age ritual at Rhino Cave, Botswana Sheila Coulson and Sigrid Staurset interpret ancient African ritual activity. Radical Anthropology. ISSN 1756-0896. 5, p. 12–18.
  • Fuglestvedt, Ingrid & Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2009). Kvinnen var jeger. Aftenposten (morgenutg. : trykt utg.). ISSN 0804-3116.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2008). Interviewed for programme on the origins of art. Three part series on SABC 3 television, South Africa, on the Origins of Art. Emphasis on San artists. Botswana contribution in Part 3.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2008). Interviewed by Botswana TV after Keynote lecture, at National Museum of Botswana, entitled 'The way forward in Stone Age Research - a personal perspective'.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2008). Verdibørsen interview on the role of women and men in Stone Age society. 20 minute interview.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2008). Later Stone Age Sites in the Lake Ngami Area: what the archaeological record reveals about climate change.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2008). Ritualized Behaviour - Evidence from a Middle Stone Age Site, Tsodilo Hills, Botswana.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2008). The Chaîne Opératoire - the method that revitalized Archaeology.
  • Brandt, Johann Rasmus; Coulson, Sheila Dawn; Hedeager, Lotte; Lunde, Øivind; Prescott, Christopher & Skre, Dagfinn (2004). Forskningsstyring ved HF. Uniforum. ISSN 1891-5825. p. 8–8.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2004). Omstruktureringa av HF-fakultet. Mål og makt. ISSN 0332-7744. 2(124), p. 50–53.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2004). Bits, bulbs and burnt blades: what is hidden in the debris.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2002). The Black Rock Peoples of North-eastern Greenland.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2002). Giving and Sharing during Independence II - results of Refitting at the Eigil Knuth Site, NE Greenland.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2001). 'The Basarwa Project. Ongoing research on the San of the Okavango Delta.'.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2001). 'The Black Rock Peoples of NE Greenland.'.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2001). 'The Use of ArcView to Present Information on Human Behaviour Patterns.'.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2001). 'Raw Material Use in the Late Mesolithic of South-eastern Norway.'.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (1997). 'Use of the Interior of Southeastern Norway in the Late Mesolithic'.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (1997). 'Use of the Interior of Southeastern Norway in the Late Mesolithic'.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (1995). Critique of the session: East and West Sweden: Areas Dominated by Land Rebound - Economy, Topography, Origin of Coastal Settlement and Coast-Inland Relations.
  • Skar, Birgitte & Coulson, Sheila Dawn (1985). 'A Case Study of Rørmyr II, A Norwegian Early Mesolithic Site'.
  • Melvold, Stine Annette & Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2006). Lokalitet 3, Haldenprosjektet - en casestudie : en senmesolittisk boplass vurdert ut fra tidligere forskning og sosiale aspekter. Universitetet i Oslo.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2004). REPORT on ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELDWORK 2004The University of Botswana and the University of TromsøCollaborative Programme for Basarwa Research (NUFU PRO 20/96). University of Botswan.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2003). The University of Botswana and the University of Tromsø Collaborative Programme for Basarwa Research (NUFU PRO 20/96): Report of Archaeological Fieldwork 2003. UiT Norges arktiske universitet.
  • Coulson, Sheila Dawn (2002). Report of Archaeological Fieldwork 2002 Collaborative Programme for Basarwa Research (NUFU PRO 20/96). UiT Norges arktiske universitet.

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Published Dec. 14, 2010 2:31 PM - Last modified May 11, 2020 4:26 PM

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