Palaeoecology of giraffe tracks in Late Pleistocene aeolianites on the Cape south coast

Helm, Charles; Cawthra, Hayley C.; Cowling, Richard M.; Vynck, Jan C. De; Marean, Curtis W.; McCrea, Richard T.; Rust, Renée

doi:10.17159/sajs.2018/20170266

Cited by 31 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 33 publications

(50 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…They studied a well-exposed, 55 m-thick succession of predominantly aeolian deposits located ~30 km to the east of BBC. Elephant and giraffe trackways are preserved in the sediments deposited at ~140 ka (Helm et al, 2018), but most of the succession accumulated between 126 ± 7 and 91 ± 5 ka, with soil horizons formed near the start and end of this time interval. A major break in sedimentation separates the latter palaeosol and the Holocene aeolian deposits.…”

Section: Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The chronological, sedimentary and environmental context for the archaeological deposits at Blombos Cave, South Africa

Jacobs

Jones

Cawthra

et al. 2020

Quaternary Science Reviews

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The site of Blombos Cave (BBC) is well known for archaeological remains that have advanced our understanding of the development of modern human behaviour during the Middle Stone Age (MSA). Occupation of the cave occurred against a backdrop of landscape-scale environmental and sedimentary processes that provide the broader context for finer-scale interpretations of the site-formation history and archaeological patterns detected in the cave deposits. Aeolian and palaeosol sequences are abundant in the vicinity of BBC and these provide a partial view of the past landscapes available to the inhabitants of the cave. An important extension to the palaeo-landscape around BBC currently lies submerged on the Agulhas Bank, as sea levels were lower than at present for the entire period of human occupation of BBC. In this paper, we revisit the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) chronology for the full sequence of sediment deposition inside BBC, increasing the number of dated samples to a total of 40 and revising the period of MSA occupation to between 97.7 ± 7.6 and 71.0 ± 5.7 ka (uncertainties at 95.4% probability). We describe the geological successions at four main areas around BBC, estimate the time of sediment deposition using OSL, and describe and interpret three seismic profiles on the Agulhas Bank, offshore of BBC. By correlating these onshore and offshore geological sequences with the sedimentary deposits inside BBC, we place the archaeological record within a landscape-scale chrono-stratigraphic framework to examine how environmental changes may have regulated the presence or absence of humans in the cave and surrounding terrain between about 100 and 70 ka.

show abstract

Section: Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The chronological, sedimentary and environmental context for the archaeological deposits at Blombos Cave, South Africa

Jacobs

Jones

Cawthra

et al. 2020

Quaternary Science Reviews

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Based on stratigraphic correlation to the dated layers of Roberts et al 1 , we suggest that Megafauna Rock most likely dates to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e. The geological stratum in which it occurs is the same unit described by Helm et al 3 in which giraffe tracks were described. MIS 5e extended from ~128 ka to 116 ka 17 with a peak sea-level highstand at 126±7.1 ka 18 , and was associated with a relative sea-level range of 6.6-8 m higher than present on the Cape south coast 19 .…”

Section: Inferred Chronology and Significance Of The Last Interglacialmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the skeletal record may also be biased, as it relies mostly on specimens from caves and rock shelters, representing the remains of hunted prey or animals that lived in such features. 3 As with other fossil-bearing regions, the Cape south coast body fossil record and track record have the potential to complement each other, and to independently provide evidence of the Pleistocene fauna. Tracks, furthermore, have the potential to suggest animal behaviour and relative abundance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pleistocene fauna of the Cape south coast revealed through ichnology at two localities

Helm¹,

Cawthra²,

Vynck³

et al. 2019

S. Afr. J. Sci.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

East of Still Bay on the Cape south coast of South Africa lies a rugged, remote stretch of sea cliffs that expose Late Pleistocene aeolianites. A zone of dense concentration of fossil tracks occurs within this area. Two large rocks, which we call Roberts Rock and Megafauna Rock, were identified ~400 metres apart. These rocks contained a variety of trackways, individual tracks, burrow traces and invertebrate trace fossils on multiple bedding planes. Both rocks were found ex situ, but their context could be determined. Roberts Rock has subsequently slid into the ocean, and Megafauna Rock lies at the base of a coastal cliff. Probable trackmakers include elephant, long-horned buffalo, giant Cape horse, rhinoceros, medium and small artiodactyls, golden mole, birds and invertebrates. Dating studies at an adjacent site, which is comparable to the stratigraphy described here, indicate that both rocks were most likely deposited in Marine Isotope Stage 5e (~128–116 ka). Analysis and description of these tracksites confirms the potential of ichnology to complement the skeletal fossil record and to enhance the understanding of Pleistocene life in southern Africa. The ephemeral nature of such tracksites makes repeated visits to this coastline desirable, both to monitor the fate of known sites and to search for newly exposed trace fossil surfaces. Significance: • Roberts Rock and Megafauna Rock are two remarkable fossil tracksites on the Cape south coast, which contain tracks of four members of the Late Pleistocene megafauna. They provide a glimpse of Pleistocene dune life and suggest an area teeming with large mammals. • These tracks were made on dune surfaces near an interface between the grassland of the Palaeo-Agulhas Plain and the inland Fynbos–Strandveld–Renosterveld. Faunal assemblages from both vegetation zones might therefore be recorded. • The trace fossil record and body fossil record both have inherent biases, but have the potential to independently provide complementary information on palaeofaunal composition. • The two rocks have provided the first South African records of fossil elephant tracks (as first described by Dave Roberts and colleagues in 2008), the first rhinoceros track and the first extinct giant Cape horse track, and track evidence of the extinct long-horned buffalo. • Roberts Rock has slumped into the ocean, and it provides an example of the fate of many exposed tracksites. Conversely, new sites frequently become exposed. This scenario stresses the need for regular ichnological surveys along this track-rich coastline to monitor existing sites and to search for new sites.

show abstract

“…Fossil tracks and trackways are common in Middle and Late Pleistocene coastal aeolianites and cemented foreshore deposits along the Cape south coast of South Africa. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] These Pleistocene rocks have been the focus of a 350-km ground survey by a team led by C.W.H. between 2007 and 2019, from Arniston in the west to Robberg in the east.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pleistocene large reptile tracks and probable swim traces on South Africa’s Cape south coast

et al. 2020

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Cape south coast of South Africa contains a wealth of Pleistocene vertebrate trace fossil sites in aeolianites and cemented foreshore deposits. Published studies have described mammal and avian tracksites identified along this coastline. We report here on a number of Pleistocene palaeosurfaces within the Garden Route National Park that exhibit tracks of large reptiles, including probable swim traces. The tracks were probably made by more than one species, and may include a crocodylian. There are no extant reptiles in this coastal region capable of making such tracks and traces, which probably represent an indication of a previously more extensive range for the Nile crocodile and a monitor lizard. These findings demonstrate the potential for ichnology to complement the traditional body fossil record. Two Middle Stone Age stone artifacts were found embedded in one palaeosurface containing multiple reptile trackways. These discoveries have implications for the understanding of Pleistocene palaeoenvironment and palaeoclimate – in an area which is important in the study of modern human origins.

show abstract

Palaeoecology of giraffe tracks in Late Pleistocene aeolianites on the Cape south coast

Cited by 31 publications

References 33 publications

The chronological, sedimentary and environmental context for the archaeological deposits at Blombos Cave, South Africa

The chronological, sedimentary and environmental context for the archaeological deposits at Blombos Cave, South Africa

Pleistocene fauna of the Cape south coast revealed through ichnology at two localities

Pleistocene large reptile tracks and probable swim traces on South Africa’s Cape south coast

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About