Abstract
SUMMARY Models of cave site formation processes in calcareous tufa accretions are necessary for the interpretation of fossiliferous cave deposits exposed by quarrying and excavation. The ancient system of caves in the Thabaseek tufa at the Buxton Limeworks near Taung yielded the Taung hominid skull, type specimen of Australopithecus africanus, in 1924. Since then no consensus has been reached concerning the precise location of the Type Site, the geological age of the Taung hominid or the nature of the caves in which it became interred. Recent excavations of fossil deposits in the Thabaseek tufa, near the putative Type Site, in association with the historical records, have revealed new clues as to the provenance of the Taung hominid and the nature of the cave from which it was excavated. An investigation of caves in tufa accretions of the Ghaap escarpment and Eastern Transvaal has revealed four types of tufa caves that can be used as models for analysis of the fossil deposits. These include carapace caves,...
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
