From
https://www.palaeosa.org/uploads/4/5/2/1/45213539/pssa_abstract_book_final.pdf Abstract Book
The 22nd Biennial Meeting of the Palaeontological Society
of southern Africa
8 - 13 September 2024, Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape
Revisiting Bob Brain´s Swartkrans Leopard hypothesis (Gauteng, South
Africa)
Charles K. (Bob) Brain´s research laid
the foundation of Cave Taphonomy, and
his hypotheses are still revisited,
especially for studying of The Cradle
of Humankind (Gauteng, South Africa)
archaeological sites. His taphonomic
analysis of hominin remains from the
paleocaves of Swartkrans, Sterkfontein,
and Kromdraai showed the presence of
carnivore bone modifications. The
study of the early hominin skull SK54
from Swartkrans revealed tooth marks
match the canines of a leopard mandible
from the same deposit. Brain hypothesized
that leopards were preying on early
hominins at Swartkrans and that the same
may have been true at the paleocaves of
Sterkfontein and Kromdraai. Further
taphonomic research pointed out that a
large carnivore was responsible for
carnivore bone modification at
Sterkfontein, but equifinality biases
did not enable further discussion about
the taxa involved. Furthermore, natural
deaths were also proposed as part of the
taphonomic history of the hominin bone
assemblage. The application of new
taphonomic variables (such as tooth mark
frequency and its morphology) was needed
to test The Swartkrans leopard hypothesis
at Sterkfontein. The study of hominin
remains from new excavations at
Sterkfontein may help discern the
taphonomic agent of bone modification. A
new taphonomic analysis has shown that
hyenid scavenging may have been
responsible for carnivore modification
of hominins from Sterkfontein. The brown
hyena has been proposed as the main
carnivore taphonomic agent which acted
during Sterkfontein Member 4. This
contrasts with previous hypotheses
proposing that leopards were the primary
modifying agents at South African
palaeocaves.
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