A background investigation into the feasibility of heavy stable isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) as source tracers of early hominids

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dc.contributor.advisorSillen, Andrewen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorArmstrong, Ren_ZA
dc.contributor.authorHall, Granten_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2016-08-22T12:21:04Z
dc.date.available2016-08-22T12:21:04Z
dc.date.issued1995en_ZA
dc.descriptionBibliography: pages 85-96.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractHeavy stable strontium isotope ratios (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) may be used to characterize the habitat choices of early hominids. The basis for this approach is that different geological substrata may have a characteristic range of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios in the available soil strontium pool. This range may be represented in the plants growing on these various geologies and thus into the bones of animals feeding in these areas. Through an examination of strontium isotope ratios for isotope and soils from 10 different geologies in the Sterkfontein Valley and immediate vicinity, it was possible to obtain some tentative indication of the possible range in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios in an area most likely to cover favoured foraging habitats of early hominids, such as Australopithecus robustus. On the basis of isotopic data from extensive dolomite sampling, it is clear that there is a wide range of variation in strontium isotope ratios for dolomite substrata around Swartkrans. This may be as a result of topography, water action and atmospheric pollution. However, in spite of such variation, it is possible to distinguish isotopically different habitats, such as riparian from slopes. Such variation will complicate the interpretation of early hominid home ranges, but does provide alternative avenues for behavioural interpretations and also emphasises the necessity for the collection of background isotopic data.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationHall, G. (1995). <i>A background investigation into the feasibility of heavy stable isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) as source tracers of early hominids</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Archaeology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21404en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationHall, Grant. <i>"A background investigation into the feasibility of heavy stable isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) as source tracers of early hominids."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Archaeology, 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21404en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationHall, G. 1995. A background investigation into the feasibility of heavy stable isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) as source tracers of early hominids. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Hall, Grant AB - Heavy stable strontium isotope ratios (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) may be used to characterize the habitat choices of early hominids. The basis for this approach is that different geological substrata may have a characteristic range of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios in the available soil strontium pool. This range may be represented in the plants growing on these various geologies and thus into the bones of animals feeding in these areas. Through an examination of strontium isotope ratios for isotope and soils from 10 different geologies in the Sterkfontein Valley and immediate vicinity, it was possible to obtain some tentative indication of the possible range in ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios in an area most likely to cover favoured foraging habitats of early hominids, such as Australopithecus robustus. On the basis of isotopic data from extensive dolomite sampling, it is clear that there is a wide range of variation in strontium isotope ratios for dolomite substrata around Swartkrans. This may be as a result of topography, water action and atmospheric pollution. However, in spite of such variation, it is possible to distinguish isotopically different habitats, such as riparian from slopes. Such variation will complicate the interpretation of early hominid home ranges, but does provide alternative avenues for behavioural interpretations and also emphasises the necessity for the collection of background isotopic data. DA - 1995 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1995 T1 - A background investigation into the feasibility of heavy stable isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) as source tracers of early hominids TI - A background investigation into the feasibility of heavy stable isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) as source tracers of early hominids UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21404 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/21404
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationHall G. A background investigation into the feasibility of heavy stable isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) as source tracers of early hominids. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Science ,Department of Archaeology, 1995 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21404en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Archaeologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Scienceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherArchaeologyen_ZA
dc.titleA background investigation into the feasibility of heavy stable isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) as source tracers of early hominidsen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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