South African Cave Sites A lesson in Stratigraphy and Interpretation.
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Transcript of South African Cave Sites A lesson in Stratigraphy and Interpretation.
South African Cave Sites
A lesson in Stratigraphy and Interpretation
Location of Sterfontein Cave Site
Sterkfontein Cave Site
Raymond Dart
The Taung Baby
Robert Broom
Vindication - Mrs. Ples
Little Foot
Dart’s Original Hypothesis:the Osteodontokeratic
• Hypothesis of predatory, cannibalistic australopithecines
• Literal translation bone, tooth and horn
Where did this come from?
• Cave sites = Living sites
• Signs of violence
• Assemblages included hominid bones and stone artifacts
• Fauna dominated by Jaws bones, end of long bones, & cranial fragments (teeth)
C. K. Brain
• Figured out the complex Stratigraphy
• Found the error in Darts hypothesis
• Hominids were not living in the caves!!
S. African Cave Formation
• Karst topography
• Limestone blocks
• Dissolution
• Chamber & entrance shaft
• Erosion and exposure
Leopard Kills
Carnivore Crunchers
• Bone assemblages from hyena dens yeild the same proportions of body parts as found in the S. African cave sites.
• Result of eating the softer parts of the bone
Cave Openings
Cave Stratigraphy
Dating difficulties