3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item A palaeoecological and taphonomic analysis of the micromammals from a marine isotope stage 5 layer at Klasies River, southern Cape, South Africa(2020) Maringa, NompumeleloThis research investigated the palaeoecology at Klasies River main site during Marine Isotope Stage 5d by analysing the micromammal remains excavated from the BOS Three layer in Cave 1 during the 2017 excavation season. During this time, Cave 1 was inhabited by anatomically modern humans with complex modern behaviour. The taphonomic analysis shows that light and moderate digestion on the cranials and post-cranials are common, with the majority of specimens displaying moderate breakage. These modifications are associated with Tyto alba (Barn owl) and Bubo africanus (Spotted eagle-owl) as the accumulators of the assemblage. Encrustation and soil staining are the most prevalent post-depositional modifications in both cranial and post-cranial assemblages. This relates to the presence of tufa, speleothem material and the presence of water. The taxonomic analysis on the cranial elements (mandibles, maxillae and teeth) identified the most prominent species as Otomys irroratus (Southern African vlei rat), Myosorex varius (Forest shrew) and Crocidura flavescens (Greater red musk shrew). This indicates a strong presence of taxa that prefer densely vegetated and moisture enriched environments. However, two of the dominant taxa identified also indicate a broad habitat tolerance. The Taxonomic Habitat Indices show a strong indication of closed, grassy plains with ample precipitation. The overall indication of the environment at KRM during MIS 5d is an impression of mosaic environment with bodies of standing water such as vleis