A5044688704- Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Archaeology and Rock Art Studies
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Paleopathology and ancient diseases
- Geographies of human-animal interactions
- Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
- Anthropological Studies and Insights
- Forensic and Genetic Research
- Bee Products Chemical Analysis
- Folklore, Mythology, and Literature Studies
- Neurology and Historical Studies
- Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Landslides and related hazards
- Proteins in Food Systems
- African Botany and Ecology Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Tattoo and Body Piercing Complications
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
University of the Witwatersrand
2016-2025
University of Wisconsin–Madison
2016-2025
National Museum
2012-2022
Birmingham–Southern College
2020
National Museum of Natural History
2017
University of Georgia
2009
Stone Age Institute
2004-2006
Indiana University Bloomington
2000-2005
Combustion Research and Flow Technology (United States)
2003-2005
Indiana University
2003
The announcement of two approximately 3.4-million-y-old purportedly butchered fossil bones from the Dikika paleoanthropological research area (Lower Awash Valley, Ethiopia) could profoundly alter our understanding human evolution. Butchering damage on would imply that tool-assisted meat-eating began 800,000 y before previously thought, based 2.6- to 2.5-million-y-old sites at Ethiopian Gona and Bouri localities. Further, only hominin currently known 3.4 Ma is Australopithecus afarensis , a...
Abstract Zooarchaeologists have established several criteria for differentiating hominid‐ and hyena‐derived faunal assemblages. In some cases, however, the patterns of skeletal part representation bone surface modification on which these are ultimately based been observed in fossil assemblages unknown origin, rather than modern known origin. When proposed evaluated within an actualistic framework, only three able to differentiate between hyena‐created I suggest that criteria—proportions...
Taphonomy, the study of processes leading to fossilization organic remains, is one most important avenues inquiry in human origins research. Breathing Life into Fossils a major contribution taphonomic studies paleoanthropology and natural history. This book emanates from Stone Age Institute conference celebrating life career naturalist Bob Brain, pioneer bringing perspectives evolutionary studies. Contributions by researchers provide state-of-the art look at maturing field taphonomy unique...
Recent excavations in Level 4 at BK (Bed II, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania) have yielded nine hominin teeth, a distal humerus fragment, proximal radius with much of its shaft, femur and tibia shaft fragment (cataloged collectively as OH 80). Those elements identified more specifically than to simply Hominidae gen. et sp. indet are attributed Paranthropus boisei. Before this study, incontrovertible P. boisei partial skeletons, for which postcranial remains occurred association taxonomically...
It has been hypothesized that plant underground storage organs (USOs) played key roles in the initial hominin colonization of savanna habitats, development distinctive skull and tooth morphology genus Australopithecus, evolution Homo by serving as "fallback foods" exploited during periods food shortage. These hypotheses have tested mostly morphological, isotopic, microwear analyses bones teeth. Archaeological evidence USO digging technology is equivocal. Until now relevant data from studies...
Abstract The world’s first archaeological traces from 2.6 million years ago (Ma) at Gona, in Ethiopia, include sharp-edged cutting tools and cut-marked animal bones, which indicate consumption of skeletal muscle by early hominin butchers. From that point, evidence meat-eating becomes increasingly more common throughout the Pleistocene record. Thus, substantive debate about now centers on mode(s) carcass resource acquisition. Two prominent hypotheses suggest, alternatively, (1) Homo hunted...
Natural selection, as both a process and scientific concept, is eloquently simple. Unfortunately, this simplicity sometimes belies Darwin's broader view of evolution multifaceted that proceeds from ecological pressures phylogenetic history. Darwin further understood it not just physical traits are transmitted generationally, but also behavioural patterns, which subject to the shaping influences environment phylogeny. Chimpanzees, bonobos humans most carnivorous extant primates, an...
Neotaphonomic studies of large carnivores are used to create models in order explain the formation terrestrial vertebrate fossil faunas. The research reported here adds growing body knowledge on taphonomic consequences carnivore behavior temperate habitats and has important implications for paleontology archaeology. Using photo- videotrap data, we were able describe consumption 17 ungulate carcasses by wild brown bears (Ursus arctos arctos) ranging Spanish Pyrenees. Further, analyzed impact...
Abstract New taphonomic data on the Sterkfontein Member 4 (South Africa) fossil hominid assemblage are presented. The previous estimate of individuals represented in deposit (45) is increased to 87. minimum numbers skeletal elements provided, and incidences bone surface damage inflicted by prehistoric biological agents summarized. sample from composed predominately gnathic remains has a paucity postcrania. This dearth postcrania limits, some extent, inferences about formation assemblage....
Meat-eating was an important factor affecting early hominin brain expansion, social organization and geographic movement. Stone tool butchery marks on ungulate fossils in several African archaeological assemblages demonstrate a significant level of carnivory by Pleistocene hominins, but the discovery at Olduvai Gorge child's pathological cranial fragments indicates that some hominins probably experienced scarcity animal foods during various stages their life histories. The parietal...
Abstract Modern humans are characterized by specialized hand morphology that is associated with advanced manipulative skills. Thus, there important debate in paleoanthropology about the possible cause–effect relationship of this modern human-like (MHL) anatomy, its grips and invention use stone tools early hominins. Here we describe analyse Olduvai Hominin (OH) 86, a manual proximal phalanx from recently discovered >1.84-million-year-old (Ma) Philip Tobias Korongo (PTK) site at Gorge...
Significance Awareness of self-mortality is a uniquely human capacity. Ritualistic treatment corpses reflects this realization. Two large assemblages fossil bones from Spain (Sima de los Huesos, SH) and South Africa (Dinaledi Chamber, DC) are offered as the earliest evidence for mortuary behavior. This interpretation implies that humans had developed sense mortal transience by ∼600,000 to 300,000 years ago. Machine-learning statistical analyses skeletal part representation data upon which...