South African Archaeological Society

Fouilles du tumulus d'El Oualedji by L. DesplaguesThe South African Archaeological Bulletin, Vol. 7, No. 26 (Jun., 1952), p. 69Published by: South African Archaeological SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3887447 .

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Comparison Beyond the limits of our own country we find somewhat different assemblages of fossils,

but there is a remarkable resemblance between southern Africa and East Africa in their fossil faunas. The fauna of Omo on the Abyssinian border has much in common with the fossils of the South African ape-man period, but includes elements more like the Vaal River fauna; the Olduvai fauna of the hand-axe period has remarkable resemblances to our Vaal River assemblage, even including a long-horned buffalo! The Middle Stone Age fauna of East Africa, too, is very like that of our Middle Stone Age. Thus it looks as if similar events took place over most of our continent. There are still many gaps in our knowledge but these are slowly being filled in and it will not be long before we have quite a good picture of Quaternary events throughout Africa. In the meantime I can only hope that in this Presidential Address to our Society 1 have helped to give you some sort of picture of the faunal changes that covered the periods of ape-men and true men in our country.

REVIEWS

Clark, W. E. Le Gros. 'Hominid Characters of the Australopithecine Dentition.' J. Roy. Anthrop. Inst., LXXX, i and ii, 1950 (published 1952), pp. 37-54.

Professor le Gros Clark gives statistical and des- criptive data which makes it clear that the distinctive dental character of the Australopithecines (our Southern Apes) contrast strongly with those of anthropoid apes, but approximate to those of the Hominids (Man and his near precursors and relatives). He takes the trouble to define the fundamental differences between the dentition of apes and men, and once again makes it abundantly clear that the surviving apes are of very different evolutionary stock from our own.

The study of the Australopithecines has been com- plicated by their small cranial capacities, although in relation to size of body structure the ratio is often fairly close to that of man. Here again he sees proof of an early divergence of our Southern Apes from true ape stock. This is a most useful addition to the growing list of studies on the Southern Apes.

In an addendum attention is drawn to a corre- spondenceinNature(Vol. 168,1951, p.794, etc.), which shows that the statistical methods used by Ashton and Zuckerman in their study of the teeth of anthropoid apes (Nature, Vol. 166, 1950, p. 158) are wrong as the standard deviations have been incorrectly calculated. The use of statistical methods should only be under- taken by one who is certain of their validity, and employed as a means of expressing large accumu- lations of data, rather than to prove a particular case.

A.J.H.G.

Desplagues, L. 'Fouilles du tumulus d'El Oualedji.' Bull. dIfan., XIII, 4, 1951, pp. 1159-73.

It is a little disconcerting to find a fairly typical tumulus grave some thirty miles south-west of Timbuktu on the north bank of the Niger. The late Dr. Desplagues left full records of his excavations here in 1904. Much of the material is in the Musee de l'Homme, Paris. Sections and plans show a mound about 100 m. by 12 m. high, with a central funerary chamber of palm logs. A 'chimney' leading to the surface, used for offerings to the dead, was choked with beef, mutton, tortoise and fish-bones, potsherds and ash. The pottery recovered from the chimney and the chamber is varied and interesting, contrasting sharply with anything in southern Africa. Copper ornaments and ironwork of typical Sudanese affinities and inspiration were found, with a wide range of agate, serpentine, etc. beads.

The grave is that of a warrior chief, buried with a companion, probably a slave. It dates from about the same period as a tumulus at Sifansi, near Goundam, and both show a skill in a variety of metals.

Holas, B. 'Deux haches polies de grande taille de la Basse Cote d'lvoire.' Bull. d'Ifan., XIII, 4, Oct. 1951, pp. 1174-80.

Describes two polished axes, 46 cm. and 50 cm. long (18 in. and 20 in.) obtained from a chief in Dabu district, lower Ivory Coast Territory. They had been found near Cosrou Bay (on the coast at about 60W.). The friable material shows no signs of wear, and suggests ceremonial use. Comparisons with local examples are made.

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