UP98

Human skeleton A section of the skull had been exposed, and was bleached by the sun. The face, mandible and all teeth were missing. The remaining parts consisted of pieces of the neurocranium, which were reconstructed. All vertebrae, both scapulae and claviculae, many of the ribs, fragments of the pelvis and the complete right upper limb were preserved. The lower limbs were represented by a piece of fibula and the right foot. Sex and age The pelvis was very fragmentary, but the sciatic notches seemed narrow. The individual was robustly build, with a prominent inion and pronounced muscular markings on the skull. All the humeral measurements clearly fell within the ranges for black South African males. A tentative diagnosis of a male individual was made. Very few specific indicators of age were available to judge the age by. The long bone epiphyses were all closed, indicating an adult individual. All cranial sutures were open, but some of the vertebrae showed early signs of osteophytic lipping. The age was thus estimated to have been about 30 -50 years. Race and stature No reliable cranial measurements could be taken, but the skull was clearly dolichocephalic (long and narrow). This may indicate an individual of South African Negroid descent. A wide interparietal groove, seen in this individual, often occurs in people of Khoisan descent, but may also be present in South African Negroes. The stature, calculated with the help of the radius, was about 162 cm. This is fairly short for a person of South African black individual. Health No clear signs of disease could be found. No cribraorbitalia were present. Early osteophytic lipping was present on some of the cervical and lumbar vertebrae. Bone samples Bone samples which may be used for future DNA analysis were collected. Another bone sample was submitted to the CSIR for radiocarbon dating. Grave goods and cultural context Only one potsherd was found, to the back of the third lumbar vertebra. No other grave goods were present. No signs of occupation were found in the surrounding area, but the grass was very long. It is suggested that the area be investigated in late winter when the vegetation is less dense. The remains are those of a possibly black, male individual of about 30 - 50 years of age. No signs of disease or clues as to the cause of death were seen. No clear indication as to the cultural context could be obtained, and the results of the radiocarbon dating will be interpreted along with the evidence from the single potsherd to obtain an estimate of the time period during which the individual was buried.