Cape Zone Research Articles

Foragers Downstream of Mapungubwe: the Cultural Sequence and Chronology of Skirbeek Shelter, South Africa

ABSTRACT In recent decades, interest in the Later Stone Age of the Mapungubwe region has increased. Here, we present the results of an investigation from a shelter downstream from Mapungubwe called Skirbeek. The shelter is in a sandstone koppie (tor) adjacent to another that was occupied in the 19th century a.d. by a Venda community. Radiocarbon results show three primary occupation phases in the mid-Holocene, final millennium b.c., and mid–late 2nd millennium a.d. The most intensely occupied phase was before ca. a.d. 750 prior to the arrival of herders, possibly, and farmers. There are several continuities and other discontinuities between these periods. Quartz dominates assemblages in each period, as do small end scrapers, but artifact and faunal frequencies vary. We compare these findings to those made in the Mapungubwe region and argue that Skirbeek represents a similar Later Stone Age phase. More generally, it appears largely consistent with Wilton assemblages defined in South Africa’s Cape zone rather than the Amadzimba and Bambata (or Ceramic Matopan) Industries found in Zimbabwe.

Constraining the VanDieland microcontinent at the edge of East Gondwana, Australia

Using airborne magnetic and marine gravity data, the geological subdivisions of western Tasmania have been interpreted north across Bass Strait into Victoria. The three westernmost Tasmanian zones, the King Island, Rocky Cape and Burnie zones, are inferred to form the largely concealed Selwyn Block in Victoria. The Eastern Tasmania Zone correlates with the Victorian Tabberabbera Zone. Thus the Tasmanian Tamar Fracture Zone corresponds with the Victorian Governor Fault. The Victorian Ceres Gabbro is correlated with magnetic rocks west of King Island that are tentatively considered to be Neoproterozoic. Most of the Cambrian felsic volcanic rocks of the Tasmanian Mount Read Volcanics lie above the Burnie Zone, as do the similar rocks exposed in the Jamieson, Licola and Glen Creek windows in central Victoria. Reinterpretation of a Victorian deep seismic reflection line indicates Burnie Zone equivalent rocks were thrust south-west over Rocky Cape Zone equivalents.A link between western Tasmania and central Victoria is evident from Upper Devonian granites intruded into the Selwyn Block region. The eastern end of the Upper Devonian Cobaw Complex and the Warburton Granodiorite contain calcsilicate enclaves interpreted to be derived from a northern equivalent to the Smithton Basin. The Mount Disappointment Granodiorite has high Ni and Cr contents and pseudomorphs after orthopyroxenes, consistent with having been partly sourced from the underlying basaltic rocks like those on the eastern margin of the King Island Zone. The magnetic responses under the Strathbogie Complex, the Cerberean Caldera and the Lysterfield Granodiorite are attributed to metamorphism of part of an extension of the Smithton Basin, probably equivalents to the 580Ma Spinks Creek Volcanics. Quartzite cobbles in a Devonian conglomerate in the south-eastern Melbourne Zone may be derived from Rocky Cape Group equivalents. When integrated with the geological interpretation of Tasmania, we provide a stratotectonic map of the VanDieland micro-continent.

Time of diversification in the Cape fauna endemisms, inferred by phylogenetic studies of the genusIselma(Coleoptera: Meloidae: Eleticinae)

The endemic diversification of the Cape zone fauna and the phylogenetic relationships among the 30 species of the blister beetle genus Iselma are investigated. We analysed morphological, molecular (mtDNA 16S) and combined datasets of characters using a number of approaches (maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference analyses). We propose hypotheses of diversification times among taxa from molecular clock analyses. Morphological and molecular analyses produced similar results. According to maximum likelihood molecular studies, radiation within the genus Iselma occurred during the Pliocene and Pleistocene, roughly contemporaneously with the shift in African climate, vegetation and faunal assemblages. Two main lineages, one Namibian and one South African, separated c. 4.9 Ma. Within the South African lineage we identify two groups of endemic species, one in Little Karoo and one that extend towards southern Namaqualand. The remaining South African groups of species are spread through Namaqualand and the southwestern Cape area. These include several endemisms, with different times of diversification during the Pleistocene, probably related in part to glacial cycles. These endemisms are distributed in small areas of the following ecosystems: coastal Strandveld, Succulent Karoo and particularly Fynbos.

A New Erichsonius Species from Cape Province, South Africa, with Redescription of Erichsonius capensis (CAMERON) (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae)

AbstractErichsonius (Sectophilonthus) zapfi sp.n. from Cape Province, South Africa, is described and illustrated. Type locality: De Hoop Nature Reserve.Actobius capensis CAMERON (1944) is redescribed, figured and transferred to Erichsonius (Sectophilonthus). A lectotype is designated. All available specimens of Erichsonius (S.) capensis (CAMERON) are studied and the localities listed. Both E. (S.) zapfi sp.n. and E. (S.) capensis (CAMERON, 1944) are zoogeographically species of the Cape zone of ENDRÖDY‐YOUNGA (1978).

New reductions of the Astrographic Catalogue. Plate adjustments of the Algiers, Oxford I and II, and Vatican Zones

The U. S. Naval Observatory is in the process of making new reductions of the Astrographic Catalogue using a modern reference catalog, the ACRS, and new data analysis and reduction software. Currently ten AC zones have been reduced. This papers discusses the reduction models and results from the Algiers, Oxford I and II, and Vatican zones (those of the Cape zone are discussed elsewhere). The resulting star positions will be combined with those of the U.S. Naval Observatory's Twin Astrograph Catalog to produce a catalog of positions and proper motions in support of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.

Rigorous Block-Adjustment Of The CPC2 Cape Zone

A preliminary classical plate adjustment (CPA) of the Cape zone (−40° ⩾δ⩾ −52°) of the Second Cape Photographic Catalogue (CPC2) has already been published (Nicholson et al 1984). A status report of the whole CPC2 project which provides a fourfold overlap of the entire southern hemisphere on 5820 plates with two exposures each, has been given elsewhere at this symposium (de Vegt et al 1987).

Chemical Control of Budbreak

Abstract Interest in artificial control of budbreak of deciduous fruit trees species is closely connected with commercial attempts to grow these species in warm locations, where the chilling requirements are not fulfilled naturally. This interest developed following attempts to grow such species in warm countries that did not want to or could not import these fruits from cooler regions. In subtropical regions like the Cape zone in South Africa, eastern Australia, and Israel, the problem was more acute in the 1950s and 1960s. Adoption of low-chilling cultivars, or a shift of production to cooler, better-adapted areas, improved tree performance considerably. Nevertheless, sporadic problems after exceptionally warm winters still pose a commercial problem. In other areas, such as southeastern United States, the risk of spring frost is such that low-chilling cultivars with their early budbreak cannot be grown in northern locations, and, in such regions, chemical treatments are needed occasionally.

TW HOROLOGII AND NGC 1252. A REBUTTAL.

ABSTRACT The Bouchet and The1983 suggestion that the carbon variable TW Hor is a member of the open cluster NGC 1252 is questioned on the basis of Cape Zone Catalog data for the ten stars observed by them. The most probable membership for the variable is presently held to be in the Hyades Supercluster, and a distance modulus of 7.7 mag is given. Bouchet and The's derived distance of 500 parsecs would place NGC 1252 400 pc above the galactic plane, which is higher than might be expected for what they regard as a young disk cluster.

Southern Reference Star Program: Progress Report

The observational programs for the Southern Reference Star Program are rapidly drawing to a close. Observations have been completed, except for a few at San Juan and a small percentage of zone −52° to −64° at the Cape. The Cape zone −64° to − 90° has been cancelled. The current state of the observations is shown in Table I.

Star Positions from Overlapping Plates in the Cape Zone −40° to −52°

A modification of the normal regression models used for the determination of star positions is described. Some preliminary results relating to accuracy are given.

Drainage Asymmetry and the Carolina Capes

The Carolina capes are the present stage in long sequences of capes which began at the Fall Zone because of a great coastal prominence, and were self-maintaining because a continuous series of capes resulted from the emergence of off-cape shoals. Even during the rise of sea level, relict capes were able to localize new ones, as in the case of the present Cape Fear. These sequences or lines of capes became asymmetric drainage divides. Drainage areas of major extended-consequent streams where they cross the coastal plain are compartmented between such lines of relict capes. The main streams lie immediately northeast of the lines of capes. The significant tributaries rise on the southeast flank of the next line of capes to the northeast. North of the cape zone the major extended-consequent streams were not controlled by such topographic barriers. They were repeatedly deflected down-drift and their mouths are far south of the places where they first enter the Coastal Plain at the Fall Zone. Chesapeake Bay (Susquehanna River estuary) is an example.

Second report on radial velocities of A and K stars fainter than tenth magnitude.

Considerable progress has been made since the first report was presented at the Cincinnati meeting.1 Radial velocities have been completed for 628 stars, 489 K stars and `39 A stars; and unmeasured spectra are on hand for 298 more stars, i68 K stars and 130 A stars. The total number of settings made with the Gaertner machine thus far is 187,559. The large velocity-dispersion for the K stars that was reported at the Cincinnati meeting, +27.7 km/sec, is confirmed by the increased data. The material has been subdivided, with the following results: Toward galactic center: = + 29.5 + 1.7 km/sec. Toward direction of rotation: = + 27.2 + I.6 km%ec. Toward galactic pole: = + 32.1 + 2.2 km%ec. In contrast with this, the A stars give a dispersion of only +~6 km/sec. No A star has yet been found with a peculiar radial velocity larger than 63 km/sec. Thus far 29, or 6 per cent, of the K stars observed have peculiar radial velocities greater than 63 km/sec. These are all directed toward galactic longitudes between 1200 and 00. Further conclusions about the percentage of dwarfs (see first report) must await the luminosity classifications. Dr. Vyssotsky is taking charge of this phase of the work. This program has been carried on since 1941 at the McDonald Observatory with the 8~-inch reflector under the terms of the pioneering cooperative agreement between the Universities of Texas, Chicago, and Indiana. Dr. Vyssotsky has been supplying spectral types and apparent magnitudes in advance of publication, as these are the criteria of selection for this program. There have been I ~85 spectrograms taken with the 82- inch, as follows: 657 by Edmondson, 410 by Popper, 150 by Hiltner, 123 by Bauer an Mu~nch, 106 by Deutsch, 102 by Elvey and others, 29 by Struve, and 8 by Cesco. S. A. Mitchell took 270 spectra with the Mount Wilson 6o-inch in 1941 and 1943. The K star program will be completed during the coming year. The A star program will require two or three years more to complete. Projects now under consideration include: observations of faint A and K stars from the Cape Zone Catalogue, provided that the selection according to motion made by the Cape observers can be allowed for, and additional observations of dwarf stars in order to get accurate space velocities. I.A. J. 5', 19, 1944. Kirkwood Observatory, Indiana University. Bloomington, Ind,