Permit for proteomic sampling and export of palaeontological material from assorted sites from the Free State & Western Cape

This permit application is to export small skeletal sub-samples of bone, tooth dentine and tooth enamel from South African fauna from the National Museum, Bloemfontein collection for proteomic analysis. The samples will form part of a study to develop models to non-destructively predict protein preservation in ancient skeletal material using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and will serve as a pilot study of protein preservation in the Free State spanning 3,000-2,600,000 years. The sub-samples will be collected in the Museum and exported to the UK for palaeoproteomic analysis. The samples will derive from five palaeontological sites in the Free State (Kareepan, Mahemspan, Florisbad, Cornelia-Uitzoek, Matjhabeng) and one from the Western Cape (Besaansklip).