Definition: Makapansgat is a series of archaeological sites located in the Makapansgat valley of Limpopo Province, South Africa. The main site at Makapansgat is called Limeworks Member 3 and dates to between 2.5 and 3.2 million years old, based on animals occurring in the deposit and paleomagnetic evidence.
The animals represented at Limeworks Member 3 include a wide variety of beasts, such as bats, anteaters, baboons, saber-toothed cats, hyenas, hyraxes, elephants, horses, rhinos, hippos, porcupines and hominins. Makapansgat includes over 35 separate Australopithecus africanus individuals have been recovered at the site.
Makapansgat is thought to be the oldest hominin bearing site in South Africa; and it is believed that Australopithecus here was just another prey animal, rather than responsible for hunting any of the other fauna in the site.
Excavated first by Raymond Dart in the 1920s, Makapansgat is currently being excavated by the Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University.
The animals represented at Limeworks Member 3 include a wide variety of beasts, such as bats, anteaters, baboons, saber-toothed cats, hyenas, hyraxes, elephants, horses, rhinos, hippos, porcupines and hominins. Makapansgat includes over 35 separate Australopithecus africanus individuals have been recovered at the site.
Makapansgat is thought to be the oldest hominin bearing site in South Africa; and it is believed that Australopithecus here was just another prey animal, rather than responsible for hunting any of the other fauna in the site.
Excavated first by Raymond Dart in the 1920s, Makapansgat is currently being excavated by the Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University.
Sources
Lee-Thorp, Julia A. and Matt Sponheimer 2003 Three case studies used to reassess the reliability of fossil bone and enamel isotope signals for paleodietary studies. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 22(3):208-216.
d’Errico, Francesco and Lucinda R. Backwell 2003 Possible evidence of bone tool shaping by Swartkrans early hominids. Journal of Archaeological Science 30:1559–1576.
McFadden, P.L., A. Brock, and T.C. Partridge. 1979. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 44(3):373-382
Schubert, Blaine W. et al. 2006. . Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 241:301–319.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
Also Known As: Makapansgat Limeworks
