A Tale of Two Caves: investigating palaeoenvironmental conditions at Kromdraai and Sterkfontein’s Jacovec Cavern using fossil micromammals
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5 octobre 2022
- handle: 10670/1.4rwwan
- hal: hal-04493697
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Nompumelelo Maringa et al., « A Tale of Two Caves: investigating palaeoenvironmental conditions at Kromdraai and Sterkfontein’s Jacovec Cavern using fossil micromammals », HAL-SHS : archéologie, ID : 10670/1.4rwwan
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New investigations of micromammal fossils from two Plio-Pleistocene sites from the Cradle of Humankind are producing significant discoveries relevant to the study of hominin and non-hominin evolution and our understanding of palaeo-environments. Here we present the first micromammal study conducted on recently recovered assemblages from both deposits. Kromdraai Unit P (KW-Unit-P, ~2.0 Ma) and the Jacovec Cavern in the Sterkfontein caves system (JC-STK, ~ 3.6 Ma) have yielded a rich collection of micromammal material stratigraphically associated with hominins. Due to their small home ranges linked to their preferred habitat, these species greatly inform our understanding of local palaeo- environments and habitat reconstructions associated with early hominins. Craniodental elements were analysed to identify taxa which are then correlated to precise (i.e. local) habitat preferences based on modern comparative references. Ongoing analyses reveal a rich list of micromammal species from both localities, and their habitats as well as their implications on our understanding of early hominin environments are explored. Thus enhancing habitat reconstructions associated with hominins.