Ages‐at‐death distribution of the early Pleistocene hominin fossil assemblage from Drimolen (South Africa)

Riga, Alessandro; Mori, Tommaso; Pickering, Travis Rayne; Moggi‐Cecchi, Jacopo; Menter, Colin G.

doi:10.1002/ajpa.23771

Cited by 8 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(22 reference statements)

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“…These results show the Swartkrans P. robustus specimens tend to be larger in size than those at DMQ-consistent with the results of our previous analysis (Moggi-Cecchi et al, 2010). The pattern of differences presented here does not contradict the hypothesis of dental size increase in the P. robustus lineage (Martin et al, 2021) nor does it contradict the hypothesis of a sampling bias at the Swartkrans site (Riga et al, 2019). At the same time, we need to stress the fact that the…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

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New hominin dental remains from the Drimolen Main Quarry, South Africa (1999–2008)

Leece

Martin

Herries

et al. 2022

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

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Objectives: Twenty-four dental specimens from the Drimolen Main Quarry (DMQ) are described. This increases the number of DMQ Paranthropus robustus specimens from 48 to 63 and DMQ Homo specimens from 8 to 12. This allows reassessment of the proposed differences between the DMQ P. robustus assemblage and that of Swartkrans. Analysis conducted assesses intraspecific and inter-locality variation.Materials and Methods: We examined the P. robustus and early Homo assemblages from South Africa. Morphology was observed using a hand lens and a binocular microscope. Mesiodistal and buccolingual measurements were taken using plastictipped calipers. Summary statistics were generated and patterns of variability in P. robustus were assessed through box plots and Mann-Whitney U tests.Results: Comparison between the expanded DMQ and Swartkrans P. robustus assemblages demonstrates overlap in size. Ten dental variables show statistically significant differences.Discussion: The expanded P. robustus sample allowed us to re-examine previous analyses of differences in tooth size between the samples. While analyses presented here show a high degree of overlap in the MD and BL dimensions of the two assemblages, significant differences were found in the mean values of these variables in the postcanine maxillary teeth-consistent with previous analyses. Two current hypotheses may explain this pattern: 1) dental size increase through the P. robustus lineage or 2) different sample composition between the two sites. Small sample sizes for all permanent dental classes in the DMQ assemblage represents a limitation on this analysis and interpretations thereof. Any addition to the DMQ or the Swartkrans samples may alter these results.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Taphonomic factors may have influenced composition in the fossil samples, that may not be representative of a natural population. In this regard, potential differences have been suggested between the Swartkrans and the DMQ samples (Riga et al, 2019), whereas little is known for the KB sample.…”

Section: Variationmentioning

confidence: 99%

New hominin dental remains from the Drimolen Main Quarry, South Africa (1999–2008)

Leece

Martin

Herries

et al. 2022

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

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“…Perspective is, however, provided by analysis of other South African early hominin fossils. Sts 5, from Sterkfontein Member 4, was diagnosed by Broom et al [1950] as a mature female, which has now been supported by Villmoare et al [2013], and hominin adults in the older age classes comprise about 17% of mandibular and maxillary specimens at Drimolen and 23% at Swartkrans [Riga et al, 2018]. Thus, even given taphonomic differences between South African cave sites, it is not unusual for older adults to be sampled.…”

Section: Affinities Proportions Stature Body Mass Age and Sexmentioning

confidence: 75%

StW 573 Australopithecus prometheus: Its Significance for an Australopith Bauplan

Crompton

McClymont²,

Elton

et al. 2021

Folia Primatol

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The StW 573 skeleton of Australopithecus prometheus from Sterkfontein Member 2 is some 93% complete and thus by far the most complete member of that genus yet found. Firmly dated at 3.67 Ma, it is one of the earliest specimens of its genus. A crucial aspect of interpretation of locomotor behaviour from fossil remains is an understanding of the palaeoenvironment in which the individual lived and the manner in which it would have used it. While the value of this ecomorphological approach is largely accepted, it has not been widely used as a stable framework on which to build evolutionary biomechanical interpretations. Here, we collate the available evidence on StW 573’s anatomy in order, as far as currently possible, to reconstruct what might have been this individual’s realized and potential niche. We explore the concept of a common Australopithecus “bauplan” by comparing the morphology and ecological context of StW 573 to that of paenocontemporaneous australopiths including Australopithecus anamensis and KSD-VP-1/1 Australopithecus afarensis. Each was probably substantially arboreal and woodland-dwelling, relying substantially on arboreal resources. We use a hypothesis-driven approach, tested by: virtual experiments, in the case of extinct species; biomechanical analyses of the locomotor behaviour of living great ape species; and analogical experiments with human subjects. From these, we conclude that the habitual locomotor mode of all australopiths was upright bipedalism, whether on the ground or on branches. Some later australopiths such as Australopithecus sediba undoubtedly became more terrestrial, allowing sacrifice of arboreal stability in favour of manual dexterity. Indeed, modern humans retain arboreal climbing skills but have further sacrificed arboreal effectiveness for enhanced ability to sustain striding terrestrial bipedalism over much greater distances. We compare StW 573’s locomotor adaptations to those of living great apes and protohominins, and agree with those earlier observers who suggest that the common panin-hominin last common ancestor was postcranially more like Gorilla than Pan.

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“…Indeed, one early objective of paleodemography was the characterization of mortality patterns for much of human existence (Acsádi & Nemeskéri, 1970;Hassan, 1981). This work extends back to our distant hominin ancestors, especially with regard to expected lifespans and the durations of life-history stages (Bermúdez de Castro et al, 2004;Bocquet-Appel & Arsuaga, 1999;Caspari & Lee, 2004;Lovejoy, 1981;Migliano & Guillon, 2012;Monge & Mann, 2015;Riga et al, 2019;Trinkaus, 1995Trinkaus, , 2011Trinkaus & Thompson, 1987). The overwhelming amount of paleodemographic research, however, focuses on anatomically modern humans from the mid-Holocene onward.…”

Section: Evolution and The Life Coursementioning

confidence: 99%

Paleodemography: From archaeology and skeletal age estimation to life in the past

Boldsen

Milner

Ousley

2021

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

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Much of paleodemography, an interdisciplinary field with strong ties to archaeology, among other disciplines, is oriented toward clarifying the life experiences of past people and why they changed over time. We focus on how human skeletons contribute to our understanding of preindustrial demographic regimes, including when changes took place that led to the world as we know it today. Problems with existing paleodemographic practices are highlighted, as are promising directions for future work. The latter requires both better age estimates and innovative methods to handle data appropriately. Age‐at‐death estimates for adult skeletons are a particular problem, especially for adults over 50 years that undoubtedly are mistakenly underrepresented in published studies of archaeological skeletons. Better age estimates for the entirety of the lifespan are essential to generate realistic distributions of age at death. There are currently encouraging signs that after about a half‐century of intensive, and sometimes contentious, research, paleodemography is poised to contribute much to understandings of evolutionary processes, the structure of past populations, and human‐disease interaction, among other topics.

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Ages‐at‐death distribution of the early Pleistocene hominin fossil assemblage from Drimolen (South Africa)

Cited by 8 publications

References 22 publications

New hominin dental remains from the Drimolen Main Quarry, South Africa (1999–2008)

New hominin dental remains from the Drimolen Main Quarry, South Africa (1999–2008)

StW 573 <b><i>Australopithecus prometheus</i></b>: Its Significance for an Australopith Bauplan

Paleodemography: From archaeology and skeletal age estimation to life in the past

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