Paranthropus robustus: cranium

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Object Details

Discovered by

Andre W. Keyser and R. Smith (reconstructed by R.J. Clarke)

Is this an original object?

Age

Between 2.04 and 1.95 million years ago

Summary

This is the most complete "robust" australopithecine skull ever discovered and is considered to be a rare female of this species. DNH 7 was recovered from the DNH 7 or Eurydice Block in the Central Excavation Area of the site, which consists of material that has collapsed due to lime mining. However, excavation of the block has allowed its original position to be reconstructed, occurring below layers dated to 1.95 million years ago. The skull has been slightly distorted and the cranium lacks the left zygomatic arch (cheekbone), the superolateral margins of the left orbit (around the left eye socket), the nasal bones, the body of the sphenoid (an internal skull bone) and the anterior portion of the occipital (a bone at the back of the skull). The mandibular corpus (part of the jawbone) is well preserved.

Date of discovery

1994

Original Object Identifier

DNH 7

Original Object Holding Institution

University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa)

Location of Discovery

Drimolen Main Quarry, Republic of South Africa

Site

Drimolen Main Quarry, Republic of South Africa

Species

Paranthropus robustus

Data Source

NMNH - Anthropology Dept.

Metadata Usage

CC0

Record ID

dpo_3d_200073