Hominin Postcranial Remains from Sterkfontein, South Africa, 1936-1995

Bernhard Zipfel is University Curator of Fossil and Rock Collections at the Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand.Brian G. Richmond is a Senior Data Scientist for Product Intelligence at Aura Health. Richmond was Associate Professor of Anthropology, Anatomy, and Regenerative Biology at George Washington University for twelve years, and he previously held the position of Senior Scientist at the American Museum of Natural History.Carol V. Ward is Curators' Distinguished Professor in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences at the University of Missouri School of Medicine and Adjunct Professor in the University of Missouri Department of Anthropology.

• i. Preface Carol V. Ward, Brian G. Richmond, Bernhard Zipfel ii. Introductory remarks to the Workshop on Sterkfontein Postcranial Fossils Philip V. Tobias Section 1: Temporal, geologic and historical context of the Sterkfontein hominins 1. A summary of the history of exploration at the Sterkfontein Caves in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site Francis Thackeray 2. The geological setting, cave formation, and stratigraphy of the fossil bearing deposits at Sterkfontein Caves Dominic Stratford 3. A new multidisciplinary age of 2.61 - 2.07 Ma for the Sterkfontein Member 4 australopiths Robyn Pickering, Andy I.R. Herries Section 2: Postcranial anatomy of the Sterkfontein hominins 4. The partial skeletons Carol V. Ward, Martin Haeusler, Bernhard Zipfel 5. Scapula, clavicle, and proximal humerus David J. Green 6. Distal humerus Michael R. Lague, Colin G. Menter 7. Ulna and radius Michelle S. M. Drapeau, Colin G. Menter 8. Carpals Matthew W. Tocheri, Job Kibii 9. Metacarpals & manual phalanges Tracy L. Kivell, Kelly Ostrofsky, Brian G. Richmond, Michelle Drapeau 10. Thoracolumbar vertebrae and ribs Carol V. Ward, Burt Rosenman, Bruce Latimer, Shahed Nalla 11. Pelvis Martin Haeusler, Christopher B. Ruff 12. Femur Jeremy M. Desilva, Mark Grabowski 13. Tibia and fibula Kristian J. Carlson, Bernhard Zipfel, William Jungers 14. Tarsals Tea Jashashvili, Kristian J. Carlson, Ronald J. Clarke 15. Metatarsals and pedal phalanges Bernhard Zipfel, Roshna Wunderlich Section 3: Functional anatomy & biology 16. Long bone cross-sectional geometry Christopher B. Ruff, Ryan W. Higgins, Kristian J. Carlson 17. Limb proportions and positional behavior: Revisiting the theoretical and empirical underpinnings of locomotor reconstruction in Australopithecus africanus Adam D. Gordon, David J. Green, William L. Jungers, Brian G. Richmond 18. Summary and Synthesis Carol V. Ward, Bernhard Zipfel Section 4: Appendices Appendix I - Table of specimens, locus (grid and depth, identification and date of discovery). Appendix II - Figure 1. Other lower limb, humeral and radial sections; Figure 2. Other ulna sections; Table 1. Cross-sectional properties of all sections. Appendix III - Fossil sample used in studies presented in Chapter 17. Appendix IV - Extant sample used in studies presented in Chapter 17. Appendix V - Measurement definitions used in studies presented in Chapter 17.

The editors and their contributors are to be congratulated on producing a volume that provides a wealth of knowledge not only about the longneglected postcranial remains from Sterkfontein, but also about other African fossils. This book stands to be heavily cited by future researchers, who will welcome the compilation of so much valuable information relating to early hominin postcranial morphology.