Early Hominids

A new hominid from the Upper Miocene of Chad, Central Africa

by Herve Bocherens

Brunet, M., Guy, F., Pilbeam, D. Mackaye, H. T., Likius, A., Ahounta, D., Beauvilain, A., Blondel, C., Bocherens, H., Boisserie, J.-R., Bonis, L. de, Coppens, Y., Dejax, J., Denys, C., Duringer, P., Eisenmann, V., Fanone, G., Fronty, P., Geraads, D., Lehmann, T., Lihoreau, F., Louchart, A., Mahamat, A., Merceron, G., Mouchelin, G., Otero, O., Pelaez Campomanes, P., Ponce de Leon, M. Rage, J.-C., Sapanet, M., Schuster, M., Sudre, J., Tassy, P., Valentin, X., Vignaud, P., Viriot, L., Zazzo, A. & Zollikofer, C. 2002. Nature 418: 145-151

"Toumaï", Miocène supérieur du Tchad, le nouveau doyen du rameau humain.

by Herve Bocherens

Brunet, M., Guy, F., Boisserie, J.-R., Djimdounalbaye, A., Lehmann, T., Lihoreau, F., Louchart, A., Schuster, M., Tafforeau, P., Likius, A., Mackaye, H. T., Blondel, C., Bocherens, H., Bonis, L. de, Coppens, Y., Denys, C., Duringer, P., Eisenmann, V., Flisch, A., Geraads, D., Lopez-Martinez, N., Otero, O., Pelaez Campomanes, P., Pilbeam, D., Ponce de Leon, M., Vignaud, P., Viriot, L. & Zollikofer, C. 2004. C.R. Palevol 3(4): 277-285.

The context of Stw 573, an early hominid skull and skeleton from Sterkfontein Member 2: taphonomy and paleoenvironment

by Jason Heaton

Co-authored with Travis Pickering and Ron Clarke, 2004, in the Journal of Human Evolution

The reconstructed taphonomic and paleoenvironmental contexts of a ca. 4 million-year-old partial hominid skeleton (Stw... more The reconstructed taphonomic and paleoenvironmental contexts of a ca. 4 million-year-old partial hominid skeleton (Stw 573) from Sterkfontein Member 2 are described through presentation of the results of our analyses of the mammalian faunal assemblage associated stratigraphically with the hominid. The assemblage is dominated by cercopithecoids (Parapapio and Papio) and felids (Panthera pardus, P. leo, Felis caracal, and Felidae indet.), based on number of identified specimens, minimum number of elements and, minimum number of individuals. In addition, the assemblage is characterized by a number of partial skeletons and/or antimeric sets of bones across all taxonomic groups. There is scant indication of carnivore chewing in the assemblage. These observations, in addition to other taphonomic data, suggest that the remains of many animals recovered in Member 2 are from individuals that entered the cave on their own—whether accidentally by falling through avens connecting the cave to the ground surface above or by intentional entry—and were then unable to escape, rather than primarily through systematic collection by a biotic, bone-accumulating agent. The taphonomic conclusion that animals with climbing proclivities (i.e., primates and carnivores) are preferentially preserved over other taxa, ultimately because of those proclivities, urges caution in assessing the fidelity of the assemblage for reconstruction of the Member 2 paleoenvironment. With that caveat, we infer that the Member 2 paleoenvironment was typified by rolling, rock-littered and brush- and scrub-covered hills, indicated by the abundant F. caracal and cercopithecoid fossils recovered and the identified presence of the extinct Caprinae Makapania broomi. In addition, the valley bottom may have retained standing water year-round, perhaps supporting some tree cover—a setting suitable for the well-represented ambush predator P. pardus and suggested by the presence of Alcelaphini. Finally, the reconstructed taphonomic and paleoenvironmental settings of Sterkfontein Member 2 are compared to penecontemporaneous sites in South and East Africa.

Représentation squelettique au Paléolithique inférieur, le site d'Holon (Israël).

by Hervé Monchot

Monchot, H., Horwitz, L.K. 2002. Paléorient 28(2), 71-86.

In this article we describe and analyse skeletal element representation in two different sized ungulates, Bos and... more In this article we describe and analyse skeletal element representation in two different sized ungulates, Bos and Dama, from the open-air, lower Paleolithic site of Holon, Israel (OIS 7). Results show inter-species differences in several skeletal indices which probably reflect variation in carcass exploitation according to the size of the animal. Both species have a reverse utility curve (MGUI index) which is characteristic of butchery sites. Bone density was not correlated with skeletal element representation such that the anatomical profile has not been significantly biased by bone preservation. Multivariate analysis of skeletal representation at Holon together with data for modern and archaeological analogues and Paleolithic sites from Europe and the Levant, illustrates that the assemblages fall into four groups each dominated by different element category: cranial, trunk, upper limbs and extremities. Holon falls between assemblages dominated by crania and extremities indicating that the meat rich axial and upper limb elements have been removed from the site. The high MNI counts per species and species diversity at the site, as well as the presence of cut marks and carnivore damage on some 6% of the bones best support a model for Holon of a palimpsest of kill/butchery occurrences where animals were killed and/or scavanged by both early hominids and carnivores.