Lucinda Ruth Backwell

Born in South Africa, Lucinda Backwell currently holds dual registration as a PhD student under the supervision of Dr. L.R. Berger with the Palaeo-Anthropology Unit for Research and Exploration, University of the Witwatersrand, and Dr. F. d’Errico of the Institut de Préhistoire et de Géologie du Quaternaire, University of Bordeaux, France.
Her thesis, entitled ‘Early hominid bone tool Industries’ aims to establish the extent and type of bone tool traditions recorded in the South and East African Plio-Pleistocene fossil records. This will allow her to compare the geographically disparate cultural and behavioural adaptations of early man, whilst establishing a typology for the bone tool Industries. She obtained her Masters degree with distinction in July 2000, and in so doing became the second South African woman to have graduated with a degree in Palaeo-Anthropology from the University of the Witwatersrand Medical School. In the spirit of enterprise she studies the worlds most ancient bone tools to better understand early hominid behaviour.

Ongoing research

Lucinda and her colleague Francesco d’Errico of the University of Bordeaux have proposed implement-assisted termite-foraging as a dietary adaptation of early hominids in South Africa between 1 and 2 million years ago. Three of the major hominid sites in South Africa (Sterkfontein, Swartkrans and Drimolen) have yielded a total of 108 bone tools. From their overall form and microscopic wear patterns, it would appear that the bone tools were used for digging in termite mounds.
Knowing that many non-human processes and agents are capable of modifying bone to produce tool mimics, they studied a broad range of bone collections modified by known non-human agents (animals, water and geological processes). None of the wear patterns matched those on the fossils. They then conducted a series of experiments using bone tools as implements. Using image analysis software to compare the striations recorded on the experimental and fossil tools they found those resulting from digging in termite mounds to be most similar. Jane Goodall predicted termite foraging by early hominids as far by as 1963, but until now the empirical support has remained elusive. These results thus demonstrate the oft predicted link between living chimpanzee and early hominid social and cultural adaptation, and the manifestation of modern chimpanzee behaviours in the fossil hominid record.

Francesco d’Errico

(COLLABORATOR AND CO-SUPERVISOR)
http/www.iquat.u-bordeaux.fr/paleo-art

Francesco d’Errico is a Centre National du Recherche Scientifique researcher at the Institut de Préhistoire et de Géologie du Quaternaire, University of Bordeaux in France. He obtained a PhD at the Institute of Palaeontology in Paris for his study of Epi-Palaeolithic art, now published as a CNRS monograph. From 1987-1991 he was at that institute as Assistant Lecturer, Fellow of the Fyssen Foundation, and Fellow of the NATO-Science Program. In 1991 he was Research Associate of the Römisch-Germanisches Zentralmuseum of Mainz, Germany, and in 1992 Research Fellow in Madrid. He moved to Cambridge in 1992 as postdoctoral Fellow attached to the Department of Archaeology and Research Associate of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, before joining the CNRS in 1994. He was also Fellow of the Royal Society-CNRS exchange programme and invited academic of the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. His main research interest is the evolution of human cognitive ability. He has published a number of papers in the Journal of Human Evolution, Journal of Archaeological Science, Current Anthropology, Cambridge Archaeological Journal and Nature on the origin of symbolism, Palaeolithic notations, Middle-Upper Palaeolithic transition, prehistoric technology, bone taphonomy, first use of bone tools, and the application of new techniques of analysis to the study of Palaeolithic art objects.

Pedro Boshoff

(MASTERS CANDIDATE)

Pedro Boshoff joined the Palaeontological unit a year ago spending his time in acquiring his Honours degree in Palaeontology and doing some fieldwork and related tasks for the department. He is currently involved with research concerning his Masters thesis. The research revolves around looking at methodology’s by with maximum information can be extracted from Plio/Pleistocene coprolite material coming from the known cave site’s from which important information are forthcoming concerning human evolution. This research will not merely look at tried and tested methodologies, but will actually make use of other techniques, some totally new, and some not often used. The project will then try to evaluate and rate these various techniques as to their viability, possibility’s and limitations. This will mainly be done by actually applying these techniques and then record the results.

Born in South Africa where he had a keen interest in human evolution since being a young boy having visited the Sterkfontein caves. This also started a life long fascination with caves and since round about 1983 when he joined Sasa (the South African spelaeological society) explored in excess of 600 caves in Southern Africa, often making discoverys of archaeological and palaeontological importance. He has been involved in the discovery of several unknown caves, one of them proving to be the biggest in Africa. Presently he holds a B.sc hons degree in palaeontology and is further involved in aerial and land reconnaissance in the cradle of mankind area looking for new Plio/Pleistocene sites. This entails flying over the area in a micro light “aeroplane” jotting down possible site positions. Afterwards this is followed up by map, compass, GPS work as well as substantial footwork, often resulting in the location of a possible site (33 up to date). The purpose of the project is to build up a working relationship with the landowners as well as building up an easily accessible database of possible sites for future use.

He plans to further his studies at the Unit to a PhD level and hopes to stay on as an active research scientist as well as a lecturer.

Headman Zondo

My full name is Babehleka Headman Zondo who was born from Zulu Cultural background family in Pogola, Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. I finished my standard 10 at my home high school called Khulumeluzulu in 1995. In the years between 1996 and 1999 I managed to finish my first degree in Social Science from University of Natal (Durban Campus), majoring in Linguistics and Industrial Psychology. After my first degree in the year 2000 I did Post-Graduate Diploma in Industrial Relations, majoring in Labour Law from the same university (University of Natal Durban Campus). During my first degree I found myself very much interested to study about Human Origins after we were taught about Darwin’s theory of evolution of the species as one of the modules of Psychology in those years. Due to the lack of information about where I can do such a study, I end up coming to Johannesburg after my studies with an aim of working. Luckily, before I got any employment, I met Dr Lee Berger’s family friend Mike Kirkinis who is a director of Olympic Traveling Company. He told me about Dr Berger and PURE where I can apply for studying Human Origin. He did even arrange a quick meeting for Dr Berger and myself. From there Dr Berger arranged funding for my studies in 2001 at University of the Witswatersrand as an Occasional student doing Geology 1,3 and Archaeology 1 under his supervision. At the end of 2002 I managed to finish BSc Honours in Paleontology under the supervision of Dr de Ruiter. This year I ‘m admitted to do BSc Masters in Palaeoanthropology under the co-supervision of both Drs Berger and de Ruiter. My Masters topic is as follows: A Morphological and Taxonomic Analysis of the South African Fossil Hyracoidea Including the Relative Abundance of Hyracoidea and Correlations of South African Hominid Localities in the Sterkfontein Valley, South Africa.

Rodrigo Lacruz

Rodrigo Lacruz was born in Spain where he completed his undergraduate degree. He has lived in the US, where he also qualified as a commercial pilot; Kenya and Tanzania where he worked as a safari guide and pilot; England, and in Botswana’s northern Kalahari before arriving in South Africa in 1999.

His MSc research project which was completed during 2002 granted CUM LAUDE was based on the analysis of stratified fossil deposits from the hominid-bearing cave site of Gladysvale. These deposits were dated to 800.000 years, and although no new fossil hominids can be reported, the fauna is very diverse. This work was very comprehensive and included identification of over 4000 fossil specimens, interpretation of the stratigraphic context, taphonomy of the fossil assemblage and Geographical Information System (GIS) use in spatial distribution of fossils.
His current doctoral thesis deals with biological and taxonomic issues in hominid evolution. More specifically, the project is designed to investigate patterns of developmental growth in early African hominids. Possible use of micro-anatomical features of the hominid dentition to identify fossil “species” will also be tested in the southern African fossil record.

In addition to his doctoral research, his main interests are the understanding of evolutionary patterns during the Plio-Pleistocene in Africa, with special emphasis in antelopes and carnivores.

Robyn Pickering

I am born and bred in Johannesburg. I matriculated in 1997 from St. Mary’s School and spent the next year overseas as a Gap year. It was during this time that I decided that I really wanted to be a palaeoanthropologist, and not an occupational therapist, which was what I had been accepted for. I registered at Wits University to do a Bachelor of Science, with majors in Geology and Archaeology, and various courses in human anatomy, which were the closest I could get the Palaeoanthropology as an undergraduate. In the course of this degree I fell in love with geology, and decided to become a geologist. In 2002 I did joint Honours (also at Wits), in Geology and Palaeontology, and found a niche for myself as a geologist working on the sedimentology and stratigraphy of the hominid caves in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, which really was a dream come true. My honours project was supervised by Dr. Lee Berger, from PURE and Dr. John Hancox, from the Geology Department at Wits, and was based on the Peabody Chamber, at Gladysvale Cave. I have just started my Masters degree, also on the sedimentology of the deposits at Gladysvale, and am hoping to date the sediments through radiometric techniques, which will further our understanding on the controls of cave sedimentation. This is a very exciting project and I am looking forward to finally being part of South African Palaeoanthropology. Outside university I enjoy travelling, hiking, bird watching, reading, painting and spending time with my family and friends.

Christine Steininger

Christine Steininger has finished her MSc. The title of her thesis is “Taxonomic affinity of a hominid specimens from the Coopers Cave, South Africa.” Not only has she looked at taxonomic affinity of the new face from Coopers Cave, but she also examined the range of variation of fossil hominines to determine the parameters of variation. Ms. Steininger has some interesting insights into the pattern and degree of variation of Paranthropus robustus and has concluded that the new hominin specimen belongs within this taxon. She is submitting a paper for publication on this new specimen this year.

Christine has many varied interest in Palaeoanthropology. Her primary interest lies in early hominin variation and its relevance in identification of species. She is also interested in bone histology and the stresses induced by environmental factors, a subject that could be applied to microvertebrates, especially herpetiles. Present research note that reptiles and amphibians are environmentally sensitive. Herpetology can prove to be useful in understanding the microenvironments where larger deposits with longer accumulation rates tend to fail.