Proposed export of scientific analysis of the small mammal material from Holley Shelter

The small mammal material recovered via excavation at Holley Shelter represents more than 10,000 individuals and more than 50,000 skeletal and dental elements in total. The proposed scientific analysis of the small mammal material from Holley Shelter will provide a detailed list of all species present and the preservation of the dental and skeletal remains. The diversity of small mammal species will inform our interpretation of the type of vegetation present around the site and the amount of rainfall and temperature ranges that this part of KZN experienced in the past. This will contribute to our understanding of what plant and animal resources the hunter-gatherers who occupied Holley Shelterhad access to exploit as part of their subsistence base and as resources for various activities. The detailed picture of past temperature and rainfall amounts will also contribute to our understanding of how often and how intensely the site of HolleyShelter was used in the past compared to similarly ages cave and rockshelters in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.