The Human Fossil Record. Volume 2 Craniodental Morphology of Genus Homo (Africa and Asia)

TUINPLAAS

(Springbok Flats, Tuinplaats)

LOCATION
Quarry some 130 km N of Pretoria, Northern
Province, South Africa.

DISCOVERY
C. J. Swierstra and H. Lang, 1929.

MATERIAL
Fragmentary adult cranium and mandible and some
postcranial bones (TM TP 1).

DATING AND STRATIGRAPHIC CONTEXT
Found in laterites lying on calcareous tufa. Probably a
burial (Wells, 1959) from the very end of the Pleis-
tocene. Of 5570 years B.P. derived by J.C. Vogel and
reported by Oakley et al. (1977) is probably signifi-
cantly too young (Vogel, quoted in Hughes (1990)).
The dubious radiocarbon date on encrusting calcite

ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
Middle Stone Age (Pietersburg variant), as described
both by van Ket Lowe (1929) and Mason (1962).

PREVIOUS DESCRIPTIONS AND ANALYSES

Historically important specimen, if only for its role in

the “Boskopoid” controversies. First described by in a

short note by Broom (1929), the specimen was revis-

ited by Schepers (1941), Galloway (1937), and Wells

(1959), among others, whose “Boskopoid” assessments

were clearly influenced by its Middle Stone Age

context. Galloway (1937) reported an endocranial

volume of 1500 ml; more recently, Hughes (1990)

reported one of 1589 ml.

MORPHOLOGY

Fragmentary and reconstructed cranium and

mandible with some associated postcranials. Most of

braincase missing. Preserved in mandible are alveolus

for LI2; roots for LC and P1, LM3, and RP2; and

damaged and very worn crowns of LP2 and M1 and

As reconstructed, skull very large, long, relatively

tall, and parallel sided. Frontal vertical. Occipital pro-

file gently rounded. As reconstructed, face absolutely

large but small relative to braincase. R supraorbital re-

gion preserved; slightly swollen outward medially, and

flatter and somewhat backwardly inclined lateral to

midline. Medial to supraorbital bulge, glabellar region

broad, relatively flat, and slightly sunken. Orbital roof

markedly concave, angling up sharply into orbital rim.

Above orbital rim, frontal slopes back gently before

rising vertically and then curving broadly back. Frontal

process (preserved on L) flat, and apparently mini-

mally forwardly projecting. Zygoma deeply in-dented

medial to region of zygomaticomaxillary suture and

below inferior orbital margin (creates thick “lip”). In-

fraorbital foramen appears to be in this depression and

facing downward. In side view, anterior face of zygoma

is tilted forward, with inferior margin lying behind

level of inferior orbital margin. From front, inferior

M1-3.

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