Most archaeological research of Later Stone Age (LSA) herding in southern Africa focuses on origins, while the complex socio-economic motives have been largely unexplored. This paper investigates evidence for herd management strategies by incorporating ethnohistoric and existing faunal data. We used ternary plots to statistically compare theoretical kill-off patterns (meat, milk, social risk reduction) with sheep age-at-death profiles from both historical meat provisioning stations and LSA herder sites. We found 1) a statistical fit between theoretical meat profiles and historical meat provisioning sites and 2) variability in LSA sheep management practices. The dominance of juvenile sheep and abundant wild fauna at south coast sites indicates dairying. West coast sites reflect a mixed/meat strategy, but the Kasteelberg A ternary plot overlaps all three theoretical models. Jakkalsberg B presents a meat signal by centering on prime adults. The wealth of ochre, beads, and ethnohistoric evidence from Jakkalsberg B suggests that this was an aggregation site with ritualized feasting. Thus, the unexpected abundance of juveniles and old sheep at Kasteelberg A may reflect a palimpsest, longer-term occupation, and/or an intensified period of ritual feasting. This methodological approach can be used in any archaeological context where the age-at-death of domesticates is known.

大多数关于南部非洲晚期石器时代 (LSA) 放牧的考古研究都集中在起源上，而复杂的社会经济动机在很大程度上尚未得到探索。本文通过结合民族历史和现有的动物数据来调查畜群管理策略的证据。我们使用三元图对来自历史肉类供应站和 LSA 牧民地点的羊的死亡年龄分布进行统计比较理论杀灭模式（肉类、牛奶、降低社会风险）。我们发现 1) 理论肉类概况与历史肉类供应地点之间的统计拟合以及 2) LSA 绵羊管理实践的可变性。南海岸地区的幼羊和丰富的野生动物群占主导地位，这表明乳制品业。西海岸网站反映了混合/肉类策略，但是 Kasteelberg A 三元图与所有三个理论模型都重叠。Jakkalsberg B 通过以成年成年人为中心呈现肉类信号。来自 Jakkalsberg B 的大量赭石、珠子和民族史证据表明，这是一个举行仪式盛宴的聚集地。因此，Kasteelberg A 出乎意料的大量幼羊和老羊可能反映了一种最彻底、更长期的职业，和/或仪式盛宴的强化时期。这种方法可用于任何已知驯化动物死亡年龄的考古背景。Kasteelberg A 出乎意料地丰富了幼羊和老羊，这可能反映了一种最彻底的、长期的职业，和/或仪式盛宴的强化时期。这种方法可用于任何已知驯化动物死亡年龄的考古背景。Kasteelberg A 出乎意料地丰富了幼羊和老羊，这可能反映了一种最彻底的、长期的职业，和/或仪式盛宴的强化时期。这种方法可用于任何已知驯化动物死亡年龄的考古背景。