Investigation of stains existing on fossil samples from the sterkfonfein archeaologica sites

Abstract

It is known that fossilized bone samples excavated from the Sterkfontein archaeological sites have prominent brown stains on their surfaces. Their existence has been postulated by researchers from Transvaal museum to be reminiscent of Mn deposits from lichen growth in the Mn rich geological environment of the area [Tha2005]. To investigate the chemical nature of the stains, we report results from experimental studies on fossilized antelope bone samples as well as rocks from the archaeological sites. The fossil samples cover the age period 1 to 2.5 million years ago. A chert rock sample is of specific interest to this study as it contains both live lichen growth (green residue) and brown stains (believed to be the residue of dead lichen).