Wits Evolutionary Studies Institute (ESI)

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    A multi-disciplinary review of late Quaternary palaeoclimates and environments for Lesotho
    (2016-07) Fitchett, J.M.; Grab, S.W; Bamford, M.K.; Mackay, A.W.
    Lesotho provides a unique context for palaeoclimatic research. The small country is entirely landlocked by South Africa, yet has considerable variation in topography, climate, and associated vegetation over an approximate east–west transect. The region has been of archaeological interest for over a century, and hosts many Early to Late Stone Age sites with occupation preceding 80 000 years before present. The eastern Lesotho highlands are of interest to periglacial and glacial geomorphologists because of their well-preserved relict landforms and contentious evidence for permafrost and niche glaciation during the late Quaternary. However, continuous proxy records for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions for Lesotho are scarce and hampered by a range of methodological shortfalls. These challenges include uncertain ages, poor sampling resolution, and proxies extracted from archaeological excavations for which there may be bias in selection. Inferences on palaeoclimates are thus based predominantly on archaeological and palaeogeomorphological evidence for discrete periods during the late Quaternary. This review paper presents a more detailed multidisciplinary synthesis of late Quaternary conditions in Lesotho. We simultaneously considered the varying data that contribute to the under-studied palaeoenvironmental record for southern Africa. The collective palaeoenvironmental data for eastern Lesotho were shown to be relatively contradictory, with considerable variations in contemporaneous palaeoclimatic conditions within the study area. We argue that although methodological challenges may contribute to this variation, the marked changes in topography result in contrasting late Quaternary palaeoenvironments. Such environments are characterised by similar contrasting microclimates and niche ecologies as are witnessed in the contemporary landscape. These spatial variations within a relatively small landlocked country are of importance in understanding broader southern African palaeoenvironmental change.
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    Permo-Triassic palynology and palaeobotany of Zambia: a review
    (2016-03) Barbolini, Natasha; Bamford, Marion K.; Tolan, Stephen
    Permian and Triassic deposits in Zambia have been sporadically researched since the beginning of the 20th century, but there have not been many detailed works on the palaeobotany and palynology of these Karoo-aged rocks. Studies that have been published, suffered from a lack of inter-basinal correlation, which was also hampered by differing stratigraphic subdivisions. We review previous records of palynomorphs, megafloral remains and fossil wood in Zambian Permo-Triassic deposits, present a synthesis of micro- and macrofossil occurrences throughout the country, and propose a standardised subdivision for the Luangwa Valley. This will aid in future correlations between different Karoo basins and act as a framework for future palaeobotanical research in both Zambia and Gondwana.
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    A problematical element in the Glossopteris flora of Vereeniging
    (Bernard Price Institute for Palaeontological Research, 1975) LeRoux, S F
    An unusual element, not previously recorded from the mixed Glossopteris Flora of Vereeniging, is described here. The type material was obtained from a rich fossiliferous zone, previously described by the author (Le Roux, 1963, pp. 1-2). The material available for study consists of a single specimen of an incomplete frond preserved in the form of an impression in fine-grained laminated clay.