Cᵉ siècle av. J.-C.
South Africa
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Swartkrans is a South African cave locality that yielded hominid remains associated with Australopithecus-rich deposits and later infillings containing Acheulian stone artefacts. A mandible initially designated Telanthropus capensis was later transferred to Homo erectus, while other specimens from an earlier infilling were treated as a small sample of an ancient Homo species. Stratigraphic differences between Members 1 and 2 are central to interpreting the age and taxonomic affiliations of the fossils.
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Le récit
Swartkrans is presented as a key South African cave locality in the early history of Homo research. Several specimens were recovered in association with Australopithecus crassidens, including a largely complete mandible with five molars that Broom and Robinson designated Telanthropus capensis. In total, approximately six specimens were considered to represent this second hominid at the locality, though the interpretation of multiple taxa remained controversial.
The type mandible, SK. 15, came from Member 2, a younger cave infilling than Member 1, which contains abundant australopithecine remains. Member 2 followed an extended episode of erosion and yielded Acheulian stone artefacts. Its vertebrate fauna suggested the Cornelian Faunal Span and therefore an age sometime in the Middle Pleistocene, although the exact age remained unknown.
In 1961 Robinson transferred the remains attributed to Telanthropus capensis to Homo erectus, an attribution considered appropriate for the type mandible, an associated molar, and a proximal radius. The remaining specimens derived from the earlier Australopithecus-rich infilling and were instead treated as a small sample of an ancient Homo species. The locality therefore illustrates how stratigraphy can alter taxonomic interpretation.
Cᵉ siècle av. J.-C.
South Africa
Traduction non disponible · Original (anglais) · français indisponible
Swartkrans is a South African cave locality that yielded hominid remains associated with Australopithecus-rich deposits and later infillings containing Acheulian stone artefacts. A mandible initially designated Telanthropus capensis was later transferred to Homo erectus, while other specimens from an earlier infilling were treated as a small sample of an ancient Homo species. Stratigraphic differences between Members 1 and 2 are central to interpreting the age and taxonomic affiliations of the fossils.
Poursuivre l’exploration
Le récit
Swartkrans is presented as a key South African cave locality in the early history of Homo research. Several specimens were recovered in association with Australopithecus crassidens, including a largely complete mandible with five molars that Broom and Robinson designated Telanthropus capensis. In total, approximately six specimens were considered to represent this second hominid at the locality, though the interpretation of multiple taxa remained controversial.
The type mandible, SK. 15, came from Member 2, a younger cave infilling than Member 1, which contains abundant australopithecine remains. Member 2 followed an extended episode of erosion and yielded Acheulian stone artefacts. Its vertebrate fauna suggested the Cornelian Faunal Span and therefore an age sometime in the Middle Pleistocene, although the exact age remained unknown.
In 1961 Robinson transferred the remains attributed to Telanthropus capensis to Homo erectus, an attribution considered appropriate for the type mandible, an associated molar, and a proximal radius. The remaining specimens derived from the earlier Australopithecus-rich infilling and were instead treated as a small sample of an ancient Homo species. The locality therefore illustrates how stratigraphy can alter taxonomic interpretation.
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