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