Palaeoproteomics for testing hypotheses of philopatry

Here, we aim to sample the same P. robustus and A. africanus individuals (n=19) reported on in Copeland et al (2011), in order to determine the sex of all of these individuals, and therefore test the hypothesis that isotopic signals are consistent with philopatry in these taxa (see also Hamilton et al 2024). This will additionally allow us to determine whether the morphological variation we see in the fossil record is due to intra-specific (i.e. sexual dimorphism) versus inter-specific (i.e. taxonomic) differences, and will allow us to improve the depth of coverage for the enamel proteome, thereby improving the accuracy of our phylogenetic reconstructions. This research will further our understanding of variation in the South African Plio-Pleistocene hominin fossil record through the application of palaeoproteomics.