What the study found
The Drimolen Main Quarry postcranial fossils are a mixed assemblage, and most of the material probably belongs to Paranthropus robustus. Some remains may also be associated with Homo aff. erectus, and the study reports evidence for small-bodied hominins that were committed to terrestrial bipedality.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say these descriptions and analyses add further information about the paleobiology of the Drimolen hominins. They also suggest that the results may reflect taxonomic variation or evolutionary mosaicism in the postcranial skeleton, meaning different body parts may have evolved in different ways or at different rates.
What the researchers tested
The researchers cataloged isolated postcranial specimens recovered between 1994 and 2015 from Drimolen Main Quarry in South Africa, dated to about 2 million years ago. They provided formal descriptions and compared the fossils functionally and comparatively to assess their taxonomic attribution and biology.
What worked and what didn't
Twenty-eight fossil specimens were cataloged, and two specimens previously considered possibly hominin were formally removed from that status. DNH 32 and DNH 43 could be attributed to P. robustus with some confidence, while DNH 150a and b could possibly be associated with the juvenile Homo aff. erectus cranium DNH 134. Most other specimens probably belong to P. robustus, but the authors say taxonomic attribution is difficult because the assemblage is mixed.
What to keep in mind
The abstract says attribution is challenging because Drimolen contains a mixed assemblage. It also notes that the first metatarsal shows a tight tarsometatarsal joint curvature that may suggest increased hallucal divergence in that individual, but the abstract does not provide further limitation details.
Key points
- Twenty-eight postcranial fossil specimens from Drimolen Main Quarry were cataloged.
- Two specimens previously considered possibly hominin were removed from that status.
- DNH 32 and DNH 43 could be attributed to Paranthropus robustus with some confidence.
- DNH 150a and b could possibly be associated with Homo aff. erectus specimen DNH 134.
- Functional analyses indicated small-bodied hominins committed to terrestrial bipedality.
- The first metatarsal showed curvature that may suggest increased hallucal divergence in one individual.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Drimolen fossils show mixed hominin postcranial remains
- Authors:
- Caley M. Orr, Stephanie E. Baker, Tara E. Hobbs, Michael R. Lague, A. B. Leece, Jesse M. Martin, Thierra K. Nalley, Biren A. Patel, Thomas C. Prang, Gary T. Schwartz, Matthew W. Tocheri, David S. Strait, Andy I. R. Herries
- Institutions:
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Denver, University of Johannesburg, Stockton University, La Trobe University, Department of Archaeology, Western University of Health Sciences, University of Southern California, Washington University in St. Louis, Arizona State University, Smithsonian Institution, Lakehead University
- Publication date:
- 2026-01-27
- DOI:
- 10.1002/ar.70141
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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