title: Evidence of fatal skeletal injuries on Malapa Hominins 1 and 2.
abstract: Malapa is one of the richest early hominin sites in Africa and the discovery site of the hominin species, Australopithecus sediba. The holotype and paratype (Malapa Hominin 1 and 2, or MH1 and MH2, respectively) skeletons are among the most complete in the early hominin record. Dating to approximately two million years BP, MH1 and MH2 are hypothesized to have fallen into a natural pit trap. All fractures evident on MH1 and MH2 skeletons were evaluated and separated based on wet and dry bone fracture morphology/characteristics. Most observed fractures are post-depositional, but those in the right upper limb of the adult hominin strongly indicate active resistance to an impact, while those in the juvenile hominin mandible are consistent with a blow to the face. The presence of skeletal trauma independently supports the falling hypothesis and supplies the first evidence for the manner of death of an australopith in the fossil record that is not attributed to predation or natural death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x323, 0007, Arcadia, South Africa.
authors.forename: Ericka N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: L'Abbé
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Forensic Sciences, Mercyhurst University, 501 East, 38th St, Erie, PA, 16546, USA.|Department of Anatomy, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x323, 0007, Arcadia, South Africa.
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Symes
authors.affiliation: Forensic Anthropology Program, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East, Concord St, Boston, MA, 02118, USA.
authors.forename: James T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Pokines
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Forensic Sciences, Mercyhurst University, 501 East, 38th St, Erie, PA, 16546, USA.
authors.forename: Luis L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Cabo
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Idaho State University, 921 South, 8th Ave, Pocatello, ID, 83209, USA.|Department of Anatomy, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x323, 0007, Arcadia, South Africa.
authors.forename: Kyra E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Stull
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Forensic Sciences, Mercyhurst University, 501 East, 38th St, Erie, PA, 16546, USA.|Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri, One Hospital Drive, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, California State University Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90032, USA.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Raymond
authors.affiliation: School of Anatomical Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, 2193, South Africa.|Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, 2050, South Africa.
authors.forename: Patrick S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Randolph-Quinney
authors.affiliation: Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, 2050, South Africa.|Centre for Excellence in Palaeosciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, Wits, 2050, South Africa.
authors.forename: Lee R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D005580:Fossils; D015186:Hominidae; D010163:Paleontology