Analysis of Elandsfontein and Duinefontein Faunal Remains

克莱因博士和克鲁兹·乌里韦博士将分析 位于西开普省的三个更新世遗址 南非。 其中最大的，Elandsfontein，是一个大的 经过几十年的研究， 发现了数以千计的动物标本，还有一个原始人类的头骨， 石器 虽然该网站无法准确地确定日期，但它 早期组分福尔斯大致落在中更新世， 50万年前，而它的上层单位要晚于这个时间。 有些物质可能是人类活动的结果， 另一些则可归因于其他原因，如食肉动物 杀人 在该地区的另外两个地点，Duinefontein和 Springfontein，也发现了较小的组合。 在他们的分析中，克莱因博士和克鲁兹。乌里韦博士将确定 代表的物种。 他们还将研究断裂、切割和 骨头上的其他痕迹来确定 因素 这项工作将实现几个重要目标。 首先，它将增加对哺乳动物进化的理解， 在过去的一百万年里， 与网站的相关性。 第二，它将减少额外的 了解早期人类在非洲的活动，并阐明 在这些社会中狩猎。 最后，它将有助于发展 标准来确定人类是否在 特定骨组合的积累。 这项研究之所以重要，有几个原因。 这些 收藏品是重要的考古和 古生物资源，并没有得到适当的研究。 这项工作将纠正这种情况。 它还将帮助 考古学家开发了一套重要的分析工具 这将在世界上许多地方有用。

Drs. Klein and Cruz.Uribe will analyze faunal materials collected at three Pleistocene sites located in the western Cape Province of South Africa. The largest of these, Elandsfontein, is a large stratified site which over several decades of examination has yielded thousands of faunal items, as well as a hominid skull and stone tools. Although the site cannot be precisely dated, its earlier component falls within the Middle Pleistocene, roughly 500,000 years ago, while its upper unit postdates this time. Some of the materials probably result from human activity while others can be attributed to other causes such as carnivore kills. At two other sites in the region, Duinefontein and Springfontein, smaller assemblages have also been recovered. In their analysis, Drs. Klein and Cruz.Uribe will identify species represented. They will also study the break, cut and other marks on the bone in an attempt to determine causal factors. The work will accomplish several important goals. First, it will increase understanding of mammal evolution in Africa over the last million years and provide a basis for relative correlation with sites. Second, it will shed additional light on early human activities in Africa and clarify the role of hunting in these societies. Finally, it will help develop standards to determine whether humans played a role in the accumulation of specific bone assemblages. This research is important for several reasons. These collections constitute an important archaeological and paleontological resource and have not been properly studied. This work will remedy that situation. It will also help archaeologists to develop an important set of analytical tools which will be useful in many parts of the world.