Geological and taphonomic context for the new hominin species Homo naledi from the Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa.

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dc.contributor.authorDirks, P.H.G.M.
dc.contributor.authorBerger, L.R.
dc.contributor.authorRoberts, E.M.
dc.contributor.authorPeixotto, B.
dc.contributor.authorTucker, S.
dc.contributor.authorKramers, J.D.
dc.contributor.authorHawks, J.
dc.contributor.authorRandolph-Quinney, P.S.
dc.contributor.authorElliott, M.
dc.contributor.authorMusiba, C.M.
dc.contributor.authorChurchill, S.
dc.contributor.authorde Ruiter, D.J.
dc.contributor.authorSchmid, P.
dc.contributor.authorBackwell, L.R.
dc.contributor.authorBelyanin, G.A.
dc.contributor.authorBoshoff, P.
dc.contributor.authorHunter, K.L.
dc.contributor.authorFeuerriegel, E.M.
dc.contributor.authorGurtov, A.
dc.contributor.authorHarrison, J.G.
dc.contributor.authorHunter, R.
dc.contributor.authorKruger, A.
dc.contributor.authorMorris, H.
dc.contributor.authorMakhubela, T.V.
dc.date.accessioned2016-05-31T14:00:51Z
dc.date.available2016-05-31T14:00:51Z
dc.date.issued2015-09
dc.description.abstractWe describe the physical context of the Dinaledi Chamber within the Rising Star cave, South Africa, which contains the fossils of Homo naledi. Approximately 1550 specimens of hominin remains have been recovered from at least 15 individuals, representing a small portion of the total fossil content. Macro-vertebrate fossils are exclusively H. naledi, and occur within clay-rich sediments derived from in situ weathering, and exogenous clay and silt, which entered the chamber through fractures that prevented passage of coarser-grained material. The chamber was always in the dark zone, and not accessible to non-hominins. Bone taphonomy indicates that hominin individuals reached the chamber complete, with disarticulation occurring during/after deposition. Hominins accumulated over time as older laminated mudstone units and sediment along the cave floor were eroded. Preliminary evidence is consistent with deliberate body disposal in a single location, by a hominin species other than Homo sapiens, at an as-yet unknown date.en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationDirks, P.H.G.M. et al. 2015. Geological and taphonomic context for the new hominin species Homo naledi from the Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa. eLife 4, pp.1-37.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn2050-084X
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10539/20405
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publishereLife Sciences Publications Ltden_ZA
dc.subjectHomo naledien_ZA
dc.subjectDinaledi Chamberen_ZA
dc.subjecttaphonomyen_ZA
dc.subjectgeologyen_ZA
dc.subjectRising Star caveen_ZA
dc.subjecthomininen_ZA
dc.titleGeological and taphonomic context for the new hominin species Homo naledi from the Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa.en_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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