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 vleisItem Taphonomy at Kalkbank: a Late Pleistocence site in the Limpopo Province, South Africa(2006-11-14T13:10:22Z) Hutson, Jarod MarkDrawing on the large body of taphonomic, ethnoarchaeological, and general zooarchaeological literature currently available, the main goal of this research report is to provide the first comprehensive taphonomic account of the fauna at Kalkbank in order to establish whether humans, carnivores, or other natural processes were the major accumulators of the assemblage. Through examination of species presence and abundance, patterns of bone breakage, various surface modifications to the bones, several aspects of skeletal part representation, and mortality profiles, it has been proven that carnivores were the main agent of accumulation. Furthermore, it has been determined that the site accumulated sometime during the late Pleistocene, but closely resembles several open-air sites dated from the Acheulean.Item An analysis of the Micromammal assemblage from Sibudu Cave, KwaZulu-Natal.(2006-11-14T10:42:27Z) Glenny, Wayne JohnThe analysis of micromammal remains from the MSA deposits at Sibudu Cave, KwaZulu-Natal, constitutes the first in-depth study of the micromammal assemblage at this site. This study highlights the usefulness of taphonomic analyses and micromammal assemblages in the reconstruction of past environments. Little digestive etching suggests that Tyto alba, Tyto capensis and Asio capensis, are the most likely nocturnal raptors responsible for the accumulation of the assemblage. The environmental information from the Sibudu micromammal assemblage showed similarities with other proxy site data from charcoal, seed and macrofaunal analyses. These studies indicate that the immediate environment around Sibudu Cave was very similar at 53.4 ± 3.2 kyr (OSL) and 35.2 ± 1.8 kyr (OSL), consisting of a complex mosaic environment, dominated by open savannah grassland with a small woodland and riverine element.