Cave usage and the implications of multiple taphonomic agents on a faunal assemblage

[摘要] The means in which fossil accumulations in the caves of southern Africahave formed is of great importance. One method of accumulation is via thecollecting behaviours of a variety of mammalian species. The core of saidbehaviour is in the use of caves by these species. This project wasdesigned to give insight to the way that animals in the Cradle ofHumankind, South Africa are using caves today. The objective of thisresearch is to give a new understanding to the amount that caves are usedby various taxa in South African cave systems, with particular regard totaphonomic agents and potential taphonomic agents. This study wasaccomplished over a 20-month period by setting up motion sensorcameras outside of cave entrances at the Malapa Nature Reserve. Resultshave shown that animals use caves at high frequencies, crucial torecognize when examining fossil accumulations.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand