Abstract
The Gondolin palaeokarstic system, located in the UNESCO Fossil Hominids of
South Africa World Heritage Site, has been sporadically excavated since the 1970s.
Sampling of ex situ dumpsites in 1997 recovered the only two fossil hominin
specimens recovered thus far from Gondolin. While one partial mandibular molar
(GA 1) remains unattributed, the complete mandibular second molar (GA 2)
represents the largest Paranthropus robustus Broom, 1938 tooth identified to date.
While subsequent excavations and research at Gondolin has clarified the geological,
temporal, taphonomic, and palaeoecologic context for the in situ deposits, this paper
presents the first comprehensive description of the fossil assemblage ‘associated’
with the two ex situ hominins. Analysis of 42 calcified sediment blocks and naturally
decalcified sediments excavated from three cubic metres of the Dump A deposits
reinforce that the dump contains a heterogeneous aggregation of materials from
across the Gondolin sedimentary deposits...