A Mind of Termites : A Taphonomic Analysis of Skeletal Modifications by Termites

Sammanfattning

The purpose of this thesis has been to morphoscopically analyse two juvenile hominin craniums from the Magogwe Anglo-Boer War cemetery, Mafikeng in the North-West Province of South Africa, to identify possible taphonomies and causal agents. By analysing the material through μCT-scans and meshes, rather than the physical material, this analysis main aim was to identify what taphonomy that could have caused the big “punched-out” lesion shown in the Cover image. This analysis concluded that the bone surface modifications probably are taphonomies caused by fungus farming termites. The big “punched-out” lesion was identified as a severe state of fossilised fungus garden, created either by fungus farming termites or beetles.