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- Title
We the hunted.
- Authors
Martin, Jesse M.; Leece, A. B.; Herries, Andy I. R.; Baker, Stephanie E.; Strait, David S.
- Abstract
Classic depictions of human evolutionary ecology cast Homo as predator and other hominins, including Paranthropus robustus, as prey. Such hypotheses rest on a small number of fossils that exhibit evidence of carnivore predation, including the iconic SK 54 cranium from Swartkrans in South Africa. Here we demonstrate that the SK 54 cranium shares its closest affinities with H. erectus sensu lato rather than P. robustus. Demonstrating that Homo was prey for leopards at Swartkrans weakens the historically significant hypothesis that Homo was better able to avoid predation because of being behaviourally and technologically advanced compared to Paranthropus. Subsequent ideas about hominin palaeobiology derived from this hypothesis warrant reconsideration.
- Subjects
SOUTH Africa; HUMAN ecology; PALEOBIOLOGY; HOMO erectus; SKULL; HOMINIDS; PREDATION
- Publication
South African Journal of Science, 2024, Vol 120, Issue 3/4, p115
- ISSN
0038-2353
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.17159/sajs.2024/16387