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Strontium isotope evidence for landscape use by early hominins

Author

Listed:
  • Sandi R. Copeland

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
    University of Colorado at Boulder, 233 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA)

  • Matt Sponheimer

    (University of Colorado at Boulder, 233 UCB, Boulder, Colorado 80309, USA)

  • Darryl J. de Ruiter

    (Texas A&M University)

  • Julia A. Lee-Thorp

    (Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK
    AEON EarthLAB, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa)

  • Daryl Codron

    (Clinic for Zoo Animals, Exotic Pets and Wildlife, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Petrus J. le Roux

    (AEON EarthLAB, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa)

  • Vaughan Grimes

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
    Memorial University, St John’s, Newfoundland A1C 5S7, Canada)

  • Michael P. Richards

    (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
    University of British Columbia, 6303 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1, Canada)

Abstract

A dental record of australopithecine travel How do you estimate the home ranges and land-use habits of extinct species? One method is to measure the strontium isotope content of fossil teeth, because strontium isotope ratios are a good indicator of the source of the water that the creature drank during its life. This watermark is determined by the underlying geology. A strontium-isotope study of Australopithecus africanus and Paranthropus robustus specimens from South Africa shows that the smaller individuals, inferred to have been females, ranged further than the males. This suggests that females tended to move away from their natal groups and joined others, whereas males tend to stay at home, a behaviour characteristic of humans and chimpanzees, but not of most gorillas and other primates.

Suggested Citation

  • Sandi R. Copeland & Matt Sponheimer & Darryl J. de Ruiter & Julia A. Lee-Thorp & Daryl Codron & Petrus J. le Roux & Vaughan Grimes & Michael P. Richards, 2011. "Strontium isotope evidence for landscape use by early hominins," Nature, Nature, vol. 474(7349), pages 76-78, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:474:y:2011:i:7349:d:10.1038_nature10149
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10149
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    Cited by:

    1. Xueye Wang & Gaëlle Bocksberger & Mimi Arandjelovic & Anthony Agbor & Samuel Angedakin & Floris Aubert & Emmanuel Ayuk Ayimisin & Emma Bailey & Donatienne Barubiyo & Mattia Bessone & René Bobe & Matth, 2024. "Strontium isoscape of sub-Saharan Africa allows tracing origins of victims of the transatlantic slave trade," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.

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