| The holotype for a new species of robust australopithecinewas found in a cave near Swartkrans, South Africa. In 1948, the cave, which is located only 1,170 meters from the famous site at Sterkfontein, turned up the left half of an adolescent hominid mandible. The mandible, SK 6 which dates to between 1.5 and 2.0 million years ago, contained five cheek teeth as well as three molars and a right second premolar. It became immediately obvious to the mandible's discoverer, Robert Broom, that the incredibly large jaw and thick enameled teeth were very different from the remains from Sterkfontein. Due to the mandible's large size, Broom assigned the molar to a new genus - Paranthropus crassidens. Today most paleoanthropologists consider the remains from Swartkrans to be those of Australopithecus robustus; however, others strongly feel that the genus Paranthropusshould be reinstated. This belief is based upon a detail study conducted by Fred Grine from SUNY Stony Brook. Grine's study focuses on the the deciduous teeth from the Swartkrans specimens.
In 1949, Broom made another discovery at Swartkrans - slightly crushed cranium, SK 48, that contained the right canine, first premolar, and three left molars. SK 48 dates to betweem 1.5 and 2.0 million years ago and supplied scientists with a more complete picture of the the anatomy of the robust australopithicines. SK 48 is thought to be the cranium of a female. It possesses a slight sagittal crest and large zygomatic arches. The canine is rather small, but the premolar and molars are large in true robust australopithecine fashion. Taken together, SK 6 and SK 48 provide a relatively good picture of Australopithecus robustus. |
