doi: 10.7554/eLife.09561.
Geological and taphonomic context for the new hominin species Homo naledi from the Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa
Paul H G M Dirks 1, Lee R Berger 2, Eric M Roberts 1, Jan D Kramers 3, John Hawks 2, Patrick S Randolph-Quinney 2, Marina Elliott 2, Charles M Musiba 2, Steven E Churchill 2, Darryl J de Ruiter 2, Peter Schmid 2, Lucinda R Backwell 2, Georgy A Belyanin 3, Pedro Boshoff 2, K Lindsay Hunter 2, Elen M Feuerriegel 2, Alia Gurtov 2, James du G Harrison 4, Rick Hunter 2, Ashley Kruger 2, Hannah Morris 2, Tebogo V Makhubela 3, Becca Peixotto 2, Steven Tucker 2
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- PMID:26354289
- PMCID: PMC4559842
- DOI: 10.7554/eLife.09561
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Geological and taphonomic context for the new hominin species Homo naledi from the Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa
Paul H G M Dirks et al. Elife..
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Abstract
We describe the physical context of the Dinaledi Chamber within the Rising Star cave, South Africa, which contains the fossils of Homo naledi. Approximately 1550 specimens of hominin remains have been recovered from at least 15 individuals, representing a small portion of the total fossil content. Macro-vertebrate fossils are exclusively H. naledi, and occur within clay-rich sediments derived from in situ weathering, and exogenous clay and silt, which entered the chamber through fractures that prevented passage of coarser-grained material. The chamber was always in the dark zone, and not accessible to non-hominins. Bone taphonomy indicates that hominin individuals reached the chamber complete, with disarticulation occurring during/after deposition. Hominins accumulated over time as older laminated mudstone units and sediment along the cave floor were eroded. Preliminary evidence is consistent with deliberate body disposal in a single location, by a hominin species other than Homo sapiens, at an as-yet unknown date.
Keywords: Dinaledi Chamber; Homo naledi; evolutionary biology; genomics; hominin; paleoanthropology; taphonomy.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare that no competing interests exist.
Figures
(A) Geology of Johannesburg Dome and surroundings, showing the Cradle of Humankind world heritage site in bold black outline. (B) surface geology of the immediate surroundings of the Rising Star cave system, showing the fault sets and variable chert content in the dolomite that controlled cave formation. The cave system is confined to a chert-poor stromatolitic dolomite horizon.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09561.003
(A) Geological Map showing the distribution of chert-free dolomite and fracture systems controlling the cave. Inset shows the location of the Cradle of Humankind in southern Africa; (B) Northeast-Southwest, schematic cross section through the cave system, relative to several chert marker horizons; (C) Detailed map of the Dinaledi Chamber showing the orientation of the floor and the position of the excavation and sampling sites.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09561.004
The distribution of the different geological units and flowstones is shown together with the inferred distribution of fossil material.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09561.005
(A) Erosional remnant of horizontally laminated Unit 1 strata (Facies 1). (B) Close-up view of Unit 1 (Facies 1a) showing fine laminations and small invertebrate burrows (note fine sand infilling in burrows). (C) Overview photo of the Dinaledi Chamber, directly to the east of the entrance point into the chamber. Photo shows distribution of Flowstones 1–3 and stratigraphic Units 2 and 3. (D) Close-up view of Flowstone 1 encasing sediment of Unit 2. Note that several generations of flowstone (Flowstones 1a–e) are coating Unit 2. The thin, clear lower layer is Flowstone 1a, and the overlying white flowstone is either Flowstone 2 or 3. (E) Close-up view of Unit 2, consisting of generally poorly-cemented Facies 2 sediment. (F) View of the chamber floor near the entry point. On the cave floor, a large erosional remnant of Unit 1 (orange laminated mudstone of Facies 1a), is surrounded by mud-clast breccia of Unit 3 (main hominin bearing unit). Note that Flowstone 2 has been undercut by post-depositional erosion of Unit 3, which, in this location has resulted in a lowering of the floor by as much as 25 cm. (G) Flowstone 2 overlying Unit 3 in one of the chamber's side passages. In this location Unit 3 has also been partly eroded after depositional from underneath the flowstone drape, leaving a hanging remnant, with some indurated sediment of Unit 3 attached to its base. Note the continued deposition of sediment above Flowstone 2.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09561.006
(A) Grain size distribution of sample UW101-SO-39 (Figure 2C). The bulk of the sample material falls within a size fraction corresponding to silt and fine-grained sand. Some coarser mudstone fragments did not disintegrate when immersed in water, likely due to considerable Mn- and Fe-oxide micro-concretionary development in the orange mudstone. Because some mudstone fragments are well lithified the particle size distribution is skewed towards the coarser grain-size values. (B) Results of XRF analyses of bulk samples of three floor sediments from the Dinaledi Chamber (UW101-SO31, -34 and -39) and one from the Dragon's Back chamber (DB-1). The sample from the Dragon's Back Chamber has a radically different composition from those of the Dinaledi Chamber, with the high SiO2 content reflecting its dominance of quartz. The Dinaledi samples have much higher Al2O3 and K2O contents than DB-1, indicating a higher content of clay minerals and mica, and higher CaO, MgO, MnO, and total Fe oxide contents which reflect alterations and inclusions. The higher P2O5 content of the Dinaledi samples is probably located in comminuted bone fragments which are seen macroscopically. The volatiles content (LOI) of the Dinaledi samples is also higher than in DB-1, in accord with a higher total clay mineral and mica content. (C–E) Backscattered electron (BSE) wide-field images of grain mounts from floor sediments. Brighter shades indicate the presence of heavier elements, mainly Mn and Fe in altered grains. (C) DB-1, Dragon's Back Chamber, large fragments are quartz and chert, partly altered. (D) UW101-SO34. (E) UW101-SO39. In these samples the large fragments are almost exclusively clay; note their angular shape which shows these to be locally derived.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09561.007
Clockwise from top left: (A) Photograph taken during initial exploration of the chamber; view to the N. Ellipse ‘A’ indicates the area where most of the hominid material was excavated. Letter ‘B’ shows the location of the cranial fragment that was one of the first pieces removed from the chamber. Arrows ‘C, D and E’ indicate areas of concentrated surface material. Block E is ∼ 50 cm across. (B) pre-excavation view of the chamber floor. ‘D’ and ‘E’ included hominid teeth, (intrusive) bird bones and several long bone fragments that had been ‘arranged’ on rocks by an unknown caver prior to discovery by our caving team. Top of the photograph point to the NE. Base of the photograph is 80 cm. (C) view of the primary excavation area prior to excavation looking in a NE direction. The diameter of the ellipse is 1 m for scale (D) the excavation area at the end of the first round of excavations looking in a SSE direction (November 2013). Ellipse A is the same as in previous figures. Arrow B shows the fragment of a long bone that was uncovered after the cranial fragment had been removed. Arrows C, D and E indicate where surface concentrations had previously been. The diameter of the ellipse is 1 m for scale.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09561.008
(A) distribution of concentrations of bone fragments ofH. naledi along the floor of the Dinaledi Chamber. The positions of maps (B) and (C), (D) are shown relative to survey pegs 1 and 2 respectively. (B) Concentration of long bone fragments encountered next to a rock embedded in Unit 3 sediment. (C) Distribution of fossils in the excavation pit at the start of the excavations in November 2013 (∼5 cm below surface). (D) Distribution of fossils in the excavation pit during excavations in March 2014 (∼15 cm below surface); the long-bone in the central part of the pit is in a near-vertical position and is shown in Figure 9C.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09561.009
Analytical spot size is 5 μm diameter, which is generally larger than grain sizes. (A) Chert fragment impregnated with Mn oxi-hydroxide from the Dragon's Back Chamber. (B) Shale fragment from the Dragon's Back Chamber. (C) orange mud clast, typical of Facies 2 sediments from the Dinaledi Chamber, note much finer grain size than seen in (B). (D–G) Plots of K2O vs Al2O3 for mud clast fragments in Facies 2 samples from both chambers show an important difference between them.M, muscovite compositional field. The samples from the Dinaledi Chamber (E–G) yield some data close to the muscovite field, probably indicating sericite grains slightly smaller than the spot size, and all show a trend with K/Al ratios much lower than muscovite, up to a high Al2O3 content >30%, which indicates either illite, or mixtures of sericite and kaolinite or other K-free clay minerals. In (E) the analysis of the fragment shown in (C) is indicated. The sample from the Dragon's Back Chamber in (D) shows data in the muscovite field (data point corresponding to [B] is indicated in [D]), but otherwise only low K- and Al-concentrations, which are typical of Mn oxi-hydroxide impregnation (data point corresponding to [a] is indicated in [D]). No analytical data in d correspond to mudstone fragments such as shown in (C). (H–K), plots of Fe as FeO vs Mn as MnO show similarity between the chambers with respect to Fe-Mn oxi-hydroxide impregnations and alterations within the fragments: in both cases, domains with high Fe rarely coincide with domains high in Mn. (L–O), Plots of F vs Mn as MnO. Some elevated F concentrations at zero Mn values occur, but most data show a correlation for samples from both chambers: elevated Mn content is invariably associated with elevated F, with an atomic ratio F/Mn ≈ 0.14. No Mn oxi-hydroxide minerals with F have been described, but partial substitution of F− for OH− as in apatite might be suspected. The similarity of the F/Mn ratios in Mn oxi-hydroxide impregnated fragments from Facies 2 sediments in both chambers suggests a uniform geochemical environment during the Mn oxi-hydroxide alteration event.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09561.010
Taphonomic signatures and spatial orientations suggest that some of the assemblage may be para-authochthonous in nature, rather than primary or in situ. This scenario provides a mechanism for explaining the combination of near- or fully-anatomically articulated skeletal material and elements, which are heavily commingled and in a non-horizontal resting state (from near-vertical to oblique long-axis orientations). (A) Example of an articulated ankle region. (B) Example of an articulated hand. (C) Example of cluster of skeletal elements showing disarticulated elements in a non-horizontal resting state. Note long bone fragment in near-vertical alignment, compared to normal horizontal or near-horizontal alignment of the commingled elements surrounding it. Labels denote specimen numbers.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09561.011
(A) UW101–1288 tibial diaphysis showing evidence of mineral staining adhering to the cortex. The fossil shows evidence of dark zone sub-aerial or sub-surface weathering. Specimen shows a central midline crack with sediment infill, which separates conjoined manganese concretions. (B) UW101–419 (Cranium A[1]) showing iron oxide staining around the external auditory meatus. (C) UW101–312 and 1040 conjoined fragments of a tibial shaft, showing stepped transverse fracture (post-mortem) of the mid-shaft; note longitudinal crack, and evidence of invertebrate modification. (D) UW101–1288 tibial diaphysis showing a weathering pattern typical of Stage 1 evidenced by fine longitudinal cracks, without concomitant flaking, delamination, or the formation of fibrous texture. (E) UW101–1074 tibial shaft showing manganese mineral concretions overlying yellow staining across the diaphysis. (F) Specimen UW 101–419 Cranium A(1) displaying tide lines of dark brown, reddish brown and yellow staining, which extends across different vault fragment. (G) UW101–498 tibial shaft, showing comminuted post-mortem fracture/crushing preserved by sediment infiltrate. (H) UW101–1070 segment of tibial diaphysis displaying differential mineral staining patterns between conjoined fragments.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09561.012
(A) Removal of the bone surface with sets of shallow, evenly spaced, multiple parallel striations on fibula (UW101–1037), which run longitudinal with the main axis of the bone and are interpreted as gastropod radula damage. (B) Fibula (UW101–1037) showing removal of the bone surface with sets of shallow, evenly spaced, multiple parallel striations that follow the collagen fibres together with shallow circular pits ranging from 0.1 to 3 mm in diameter, the bases of which may be smooth, cupped, or covered with multiple parallel striations. These features have been attributed to gastropod radula damage. (C) Tibia (UW101–484) showing removal of the bone surface with sets of shallow, striations that show a smooth scalloped edge together with circular pits ranging from 0.1 to 3 mm in diameter interpreted as the result of gnawing by beetle larvae. (D) Tibia (UW101–484) with areas of surface removal that have a straight edge associated with scrape marks interpreted as damage made by a beetle mandible. (E) Fibula (UW101–1037) with sets of shallow, evenly spaced, multiple parallel striations orientated transverse to the long axis of the bone interpreted as gastropod radula damage, resulting in an etched surface appearance that exposes underlying structures. (F) Tibia (UW101–484) showing clusters of large individual striations that are variably arrow-shaped and often overlap, interpreted as damage made by a beetle mandible. Compare with Figure 12 which shows surface modifications made by modern snails and beetles and their larvae. The scale bar in all samples equals 1 mm.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09561.013
Gastropods and beetles were found to produce similar modifications to those observed on the Rising Star hominin remains, and remove the surfaces of fresh, dry and fossil bones to an equal degree (see Figure 11). (A) Dry bovid rib showing surface removal associated with evenly spaced, multiple parallel striations made by the radula of anAchatina (land snail). (B) Fresh sheep bone that was originally covered with tissue showing howHelix aspersa (garden snails) have removed the outer cortical lamellae to produce an etched appearance and create circular shallow pits with smooth and striated bases. (C) Dry bovid rib showing shallow, evenly spaced, multiple parallel striations produced byAchatina. (D) Dry bird femur showing large individual striations that are variably arrow-shaped and often overlap, made byOmorgus squalidus (hide beetles). (E) A weathered bovid tooth showing surface removal with a scalloped edge produced byDermestes maculatus larvae, and with a straight edge associated with scrape marks. (F) Scrape marks created by aD. maculatus adult beetle mandible on a dry medium-sized bovid long bone flake. The scale bar in all samples equals 1 mm.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09561.014
Comment in
- The many mysteries of Homo naledi.Stringer C.Stringer C.Elife. 2015 Sep 10;4:e10627. doi: 10.7554/eLife.10627.Elife. 2015.PMID:26354290Free PMC article.
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