Comparative studies of Late Pleistocene human remains from Klasies River Mouth, South Africa

Abstract

The main site at Klasies River Mouth was excavated in 1967–1968, and quantities of shell, animal bones and some human remains were recovered in association with a Middle Stone Age industry. More recent investigation of the caves has clarified aspects of stratigraphy and dating. It is well established that the site was first inhabited during the Last Interglaciation. Two main stages of deposition leading to formation of the (older) LBS and (younger) SAS members can be recognized, and the site was abandoned about 60,000 years ago, perhaps as a consequence of changes in habitat conditions due to climatic forcing. Most of the human bones collected in 1967–1968, and several additional specimens found since 1984, come from the SAS deposits. Two recently excavated fragments of maxillae are from the LBS member. We report results of comprehensive studies of the Klasies River Mouth teeth, mandibles, upper jaws and other facial pieces, and postcranial material. Measurements and anatomical comparisons confirm that the Klasies Middle Stone Age people differ from Neanderthals and other archaic humans. Mandibles tend to be deeper at the front than posteriorly, and a chin is relatively prominent. Internal symphyseal buttresses are not expressed, and there is no retromolar space. An impression that the morphology is modern extends also to the face and to the parts of the post-cranial skeleton that are preserved. This robust but essentially modern anatomy is coupled with strong sexual dimorphism. A question that remains to be explored is how the Klasies folk compare to contemporary populations present at Qafzeh Cave and Es Skhul. It is apparent that there are some differences between the South African assemblage and those from western Asia. These differences must be checked further, but all three sites may document an early dispersal of modern humanity, perhaps from an African source.