y2017m01b13
20170130101200
assa
nadine@assaf.org.za
assa
South African Journal of Science
S. Afr. J. Sci
1996-7489
01242017
Volume 113
Number 1/2
Osteopathology and insect traces in the Australopithecus africanus skeleton StW 431
Osteopathology and insect traces in the Australopithecus africanus skeleton StW 431
Edward J.
Odes
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2842-3844
School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Alexander H.
Parkinson
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9067-7266
Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Patrick S.
Randolph-Quinney
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0694-5868
School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
School of Forensic and Applied Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Bernhard
Zipfel
Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Kudakwashe
Jakata
Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Heather
Bonney
Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
Lee R.
Berger
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0367-7629
Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Abstract
We present the first application of high-resolution micro computed tomography in an analysis of both the internal and external morphology of the lumbar region of StW 431 – a hominin skeleton recovered from Member 4 infill of the Sterkfontein Caves (South Africa) in 1987. The lumbar vertebrae of the individual present a number of proliferative and erosive bony processes, which were investigated in this study. Investigations suggest a complex history of taphonomic alteration to pre-existing spinal degenerative joint disease (SDJD) as well as post-mortem modification by an unknown insect. This study is in agreement with previous pathological diagnoses of SDJD which affected StW 431 and is the first time insect traces on this hominin are described. The results of this analysis attest to the complex series of post-mortem processes affecting the Sterkfontein site and its fossil assemblages.
01242017
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/za/
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/za/
10.17159/sajs.2017/20160143
20170130101200
http://sajs.co.za/osteopathology-and-insect-traces-australopithecus-africanus-skeleton-stw-431/edward-j-odes-alexander-h-parkinson-patrick-s-randolph-quinney-bernhard-zipfel-kudakwashe-jakata
-
http://sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-1-2_Odes_ResearchArticle.pdf
-
http://sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-1-2_Odes_ResearchArticle.pdf
-
http://sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-1-2_Odes_ResearchArticle.pdf
-
http://sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-1-2_Odes_ResearchArticle.pdf
-
http://sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-1-2_Odes_ResearchArticle.pdf
-
http://sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-1-2_Odes_ResearchArticle.pdf
-
http://sajs.co.za/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/SAJS-113-1-2_Odes_ResearchArticle.pdf