The development of a new geospatial framework for the palaeoanthropological site of the Sterkfontein Caves, Cradle of Humankind, Gauteng, South Africa

Abstract

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) provide an essential element in modern paleoanthropological inquiry through their ability to integrate a diverse range of data within a multidimensional spatial framework which can be used for data storage, analysis and modeling. One of the challenges of creating such a framework is the integration of legacy and new data (collected with digital technologies) at large sites with a long history of research. The Sterkfontein Caves, located in the Cradle of Humankind, is the richest Australopithecus-bearing locality in the world and has been the focus of intense palaeoanthropological research for the past 80 years. A diverse range of spatial data has been collected over this history and future integrative research necessitates the development of a unified, cohesive 3D GIS framework. In this paper we describe three phases of work undertaken to implement such a framework and discuss the next steps in its development and utilization for spatial analyses.

Keywords:

• Sterkfontein Caves
• GIS
• spatial analysis
• hominin
• Australopithecus
• 3D

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank two anonymous reviewers for their valuable recommendations in improving this paper. DJS would like to thank Tom Marais for his invaluable help during the survey. We would also like to thank the Centre for Excellence Palaeosciences (CoE Pal) for the financial support of this project and the Palaeoanthropological Scientific Trust for their continued support of research at the Sterkfontein Caves.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Dominic Stratford

Dominic Stratford (Ph.D. 2011, University of Witswatersrand) is Lecturer of Geoarchaeology in the Department of Archaeology, School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa & Research coordinator at the Sterkfontein Caves. His research interests include: Geoarchaeology, karst geomorphology, archaeological excavation methods, vertebrate taphonomy, sedimentology, sediment micromorphology, palaeoanthropology, and stratigraphy.

Stefania Merlo

Stefania Merlo (Ph.D. 2010, Cambridge University) is Lecturer of GIS in the Department of Geography, School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Her research interests include: GIS, archaeology, archaeological information systems, 3D spatial modeling, southern African archaeology, and human geography.

Stephen Brown

Stephen Brown (National Diploma 1995) is a Business Development Manager at Optron (Pty) Ltd. He is interested in geospatial technology and techniques and lectured and Tshwane University of Technology in the subjects of Adjustment of Error, Stereo Mapping and Map Projections.