South African Archaeological Society

Human Skeletal Remains from Cape St. Francis, Cape ProvinceAuthor(s): Hertha de VilliersSource: The South African Archaeological Bulletin, Vol. 29, No. 115/116 (Dec., 1974), pp. 89-91Published by: South African Archaeological SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3888333 .

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HUMAN SKELETAL REMAINS FROM CAPE ST FRANCIS, CAPE PROVINCE*

HERTHA DE VILLIERS

Department of Anatomy, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

The remains comprise:

Cranium The cranium consists of fragments of the frontal,

parietal, temporal and occipital bones. The facial skeleton is represented by a damaged right zygomatic bone and portions of the right and left maxillae- including, on the right side, the frontal process, antero-lateral portion of the hard palate and aldent arcade containing the incisor, canine, premolar and first molar teeth; on the left side, the antero-lateral portion of the hard palate and dental arcade contain- ing the central incisor, canine, premolar, first and second molar teeth. Two isolated upper third molars are also present. The left lateral incisor is missing; partial resorption of the socket suggests that this tooth was lost sometime before death occurred. The cranium has been partially reconstructed.

Mandible The mandible had been fractured in the region of

the left central incisor and left third molar. The left central incisor is missing, although from the socket there is evidence that this tooth was present at the time of death. There appears to be a congenital absence of the left lateral incisor.

Teeth The teeth, maxillary and mandibular show advanced

attrition with dentine exposure but no caries.

Postcranial Clavicle: right shaft Humerus: right; left shaft, distal extremity and frag-

ments of head Radius: right and left, distal extremities damaged Ulna: right and left, distal extremities damaged Scapulae: fragments of right and left Femur: right, left proximal third and fragmented

condyles Tibia: right damaged extremities, left damaged shaft

and distal extremity Fibula: fragmented right and left shafts Pelvic bones: right iliac blade and ischium; left ilium

and ischium damaged Metacarpal and metatarsal bones 17 Phalanges 29 Carpal bones 7 Tarsal bones 9 Patella: right and left, damaged Ribs and vertebrae: numerous fragments.

Also included are shell fish remains, fragments of animal bones, fragments of tortoise or turtle shell and pieces of quartz, quartzite and haematite.

The remains are those of a fully adult individual as judged by the post-cranial skeleton, size and thickness of the cranial vault bones, mandible and teeth. The

*Received April 1974.

cranial sutures have been partially obliterated. How- ever, the method of ageing by the degree of external and internal suture obliteration has come under con- siderable criticism particularly by McKern & Stewart (1957) and Genoves (1960), who consider that, even if there is a general trend in suture closure, it is of little use as a guide for age determination in any individual instance. Owing to the fragmentary nature of the pelvic bones it is not possible to assess the sex with any degree of accuracy. However, the robust cranial vault bones, post-cranial skeleton, the presence of super- ciliary eminences and muscular markings on the occipital bone suggest that these remains are those of a male rather than a female.

The estimated maximum living stature of the indi- vidual based on Trotter & Gleser's (1952) regression formula for Negro males is 167,7 cm. However, as Trotter & Gleser point out, it is possible that different equations may be needed even for the same racial groups in successive generations-the above estimate is based on the formula for American Negro males.

The skull corresponds in its general features with the Khoisan skull, but a number of divergencies are present, mainly expressing themselves in the mandible.

The bones of the cranial vault are of moderate thickness and vary between 5 mm and 8 mm.

Although the cranial vault is not sufficiently com- plete for accurate measurement, it appears to have been long (estimated cranial length 194 mm), low and

;~ __ U

Fig. 1

Fig. 1

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S. Afr. archaeol. Bull. 29: 89-91.

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broad (estimated maximum cranial breadth 145 mm). In norma verticalis (fig. 1) the parietal contours

show an infantile degree of bossing. The dolicho- cranial brain case is thus pentagonoid. The preserved portion of the nuchal surface is somewhat convex, with well defined muscular markings.

In norma lateralis (fig. 2) the cranial contour shows a forehead of moderate height, with a frontal chord- arc index of 82,1 %. The forehead recedes slightly and curves gently into the vault, which appears to have been somewhat flattened, the parietal chord-arc index being 90,7 %. The glabella projects slightly. The temporal squame appears to have been low and the posterior limb of the parietotemporal suture oblique. The region above asterion is flattened. The mastoid process is small (mastoid length 18,5 mm), the digastric fossa is of moderate depth and exposed in norma lateralis. The supramastoid crest is well developed as is the mastoid crest. The tympanic plate of the temporal bone is moderately thickened. The glenoid fossa is shallow and the post glenoid tubercle small. The left glenoid fossa shows some arthritic changes.

Norma frontalis (fig. 3) shows, medially, moderate superciliary eminences. The orbits appear to have been low (chamaeconch). The interorbital region appears to have been wide and the frontal process of the maxilla is directed anteriorly. The total face appears to have been orthognathic and of moderate height. The hard palate shelves somewhat anteriorly and appears to have been of moderate depth.

From above the mandible (fig. 4) presents a V-shaped contour, with divergences of the arms of the V behind the third molar. The alveolar arch itself is divergent-U-shaped. The corpus mandibulae is high (estimated symphyseal height 36,4 mm and estimated height at M2 30 mm), and broad (estimated bicoronial breadth 93 mm and estimated bigonial breadth 93,5 mm). The ramus is low (56 mm) and broad (42 mm)

4 ~~~~

* -2n-m -

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 3

. . i: - .Fig._

with an index of 75,0%. The mandibular notch is wide and shallow with little bony buttressing between the coron-oid and condyloid processes. The coronoid process is short and triangular, rather stout and slightly hooked with an anterior convexity, its apex being directed upwards and slightly backwards. The angle of the mandible is 1290 and is slightly everted at the masseteric impression. The mental protuberance is

90

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moderately well developed but the mental tubercles are absent, the resultant chin shape is pointed. Most of the internal surface of symphyseal region can be seen from above. The genial region is marked by a single genial fossa. The digastric fossae are distinct and lie close to the inferior border of the corpus. A single mental foramen, directed superiorly and posteriorly, lies below the apex of the second premolar tooth.

The features of the cranial vault, such as the apparent chamae-pentagonoidy and supra-asterionic flattening; the small mastoid process combined in the facial skeleton with apparently chamaeconch orbits are in keeping with the generally Khoisanoid morpho- logy of this cranium. The broad ramus of the mandible is likewise a Khoisan characteristic. However, in the apparent depth of the hard palate, the high symphysis menti and corpus mandibulae a possible Negroid influence may be detected. On the other hand, little is known of the range of variation of Khoisan crania and mandibles, thus these apparent Negroid features of the palate and mandible may well fall within the normal Khoisan range of variation.

A bone sample from the Cape St Francis skeleton was submitted to Dr J. C. Vogel, Head of the Natural Isotopes Division, National Physical Research Laboratory of the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria for C14 dating. A date of 5180 i 65 B.P. was obtained, indicating that Khoisanoid peoples were beachcombing along the south-eastern Cape coast well before the beginning of the Christian era. Pta 1089 Cape St Francis tibia 5180 ? 65 years B.P.

- 3230 B.C.

Measurements (in mm) Biometrical School symbols. Cranial L 194?? B 145?? SI 140 St, 115 S2 119 S'2 108 Mastoid length 18,5 Indices 100 SI,/Si 82,1 100 S'2/S2 90,7 Mandibular cyl 18 WI 110? rb' 42 m2P1 29 h, 36,5 ? zz 44? MA 1290 crcr 93? cpl 94,5 ? rl 56 ml 116? crh 58 m2h 30? gogo 93,5 ? Indices 100 rb'/rl 75,0 100 gogo/crcr 100,5 100 gogo/cpl 98,9 100 crcr/ml 80,1 100 crh/ml 50,0

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