Curnoe, D. and Herries, A. and Brink, J. and Hopley, Philip and Ryneveld, K. and Henderson, Z. and Morris, D. (2005) Beyond Taung: palaeoanthropological research at Groot Kloof, Ghaap Escarpment, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Nyame Akuma 64 , pp. 58-65.
Abstract
We describe some early findings of a project commencing in 2004 to investigate the palaeoanthropological potential of part of the escarpment of the Ghaap Plateau, Northern Cape and North West Provinces, South Africa. This escarpment contains the World Heritage site of Taung, but its potential for pre-Holocene research has remained largely unexplored for the 80 years since the discovery of these important hominin remains. The region is also known for open fluvial and pan sites yielding Lower and Middle Pleistocene tool types and the long though, discontinuous sequence of Wonderwerk Cave. Surface collection and excavation of Groot Kloof site B have yielded fossils from the Florisian Land Mammal Age and lithics that may reflect a late ESA/early MSA type industry. Geological research at Groot Kloof site D provides a preliminary U-Th age for fossil-bearing tufa, and palaeomagnetic analyses show normal magnetic polarities throughout the locality. Together they suggest a late-Middle Pleistocene age for these deposits. Small largely intrusive pockets of LSA bearing breccia are also being investigated. The significance of our discovery is underscored by current debate about the emergence of modern humans.
Metadata
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| School: | Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science > School of Natural Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Sarah Hall |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Sep 2019 15:24 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Aug 2023 17:53 |
| URI: | https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/28875 |
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