Conference Presentations by Rachelle Keeling
"RACHELLE KEELING and LEE R. BERGER. Institute for Human Evolution, School of GeoSciences, the Un... more "RACHELLE KEELING and LEE R. BERGER. Institute for Human Evolution, School of GeoSciences, the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
The near complete Plio-Pleistocene aged Australopithecus sediba hominin specimens from the Malapa site, South Africa were analysed to determine whether soft tissue in the form of fossilised skin may have been preserved. The taphonomic condition of the fossils suggests rapid burial, lack of predation, but some insect damage, making the preservation environment at Malapa exceptional. Any soft tissue found with the hominins, represented by MH1 (Malapa Hominid 1) and MH2 (Malapa Hominid 2) would be of some considerable value, although such preservation is at present unrecognized in the early hominin record.
A multidisciplinary approach that combined morphological techniques (optical coherence tomography, three-dimensional laser scans, micro-CT scans and light microscopy) in association with molecular imaging (Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared) investigated whether original organics may be recovered. Two primary specimens were analysed – a cranium sample from MH1 and mandible specimen from MH2. The examination included an analysis of soft tissue decomposition potential to determine whether the depositional environment may have facilitated soft tissue preservation. Overall the study produced a provocative body of evidence that the specimens were indeed organic in origin. The significance of such a discovery could provide insight into our understanding of ancient hominin behaviour, biological pathways and taphonomic processes.
Support for this research was provided by the African Origins Platform of the Department of Science and Technology (South Africa), the National Geographic Society, the Gauteng Provincial Government, the National Research Foundation (South Africa), the University of the Witwatersrand and numerous other donors. "
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Keeling, Rachelle and Berger, Lee R. Institute for Human Evolution, School of GeoSciences, the Un... more Keeling, Rachelle and Berger, Lee R. Institute for Human Evolution, School of GeoSciences, the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
The near complete Plio-Pleistocene aged Australopithecus sediba hominin specimens from the Malapa site, South Africa were analysed to determine whether soft tissue in the form of fossilised skin may have been preserved. The taphonomic condition of the fossils suggests rapid burial, lack of predation, but some insect damage, making the preservation environment at Malapa exceptional. Any soft tissue found with the hominins, represented by MH1 (Malapa Hominid 1) and MH2 (Malapa Hominid 2) would be of some considerable value, although such preservation is at present unrecognized in the early hominin record. A multidisciplinary approach that combined morphological and molecular imaging techniques investigated whether original organics may be recovered. The overall the study produced a provocative body of evidence that the specimens were indeed organic in origin. The significance of such a discovery could provide insight into our understanding of ancient hominin behaviour, biological pathways and taphonomic processes.
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The well preserved remains of the Australopithecus sediba specimens from the Malapa Cave site, in... more The well preserved remains of the Australopithecus sediba specimens from the Malapa Cave site, in South Africa, might have retained soft tissue in the form of fossilised skin. A multi-disciplinary approach combining morphological and molecular imaging techniques was utilised to investigate whether or not original organics might be recovered. Two primary samples were investigated. The first lay above the posterior surface of MH1’s cranium, while the second was derived from the mandible of MH2. Six diverse, non-destructive techniques, combining micro-CT scans, Raman spectroscopy and more, build a provocative body of evidence. Any soft original material discovered from the 2 Myr Malapa hominins will be a first in the field of paleoanthropology.
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The Gothic influence can be seen worldwide from architecture to literature and film. In the late ... more The Gothic influence can be seen worldwide from architecture to literature and film. In the late 1970s the term Goth was used to describe a new community of like-minded people who shared similar interests. The Goth subculture is now found around the globe from the United States to Europe to South Africa. Despite their global appeal, little research has been carried out on them, within a South Africa context. Aiming to understand this group I conducted research amongst the Johannesburg Goth community.
This research paper draws on a year’s research, using in-depth interviews, questionnaires and participant observation, as well as two years of analysis and reflection. The investigation revealed that Goths ‘perform’ their subculture. Performance forms the focus of this study. Performance theory is hence used as a framework to analyse Goths and provide new ways of understanding them as a social and cultural group. No study has looked at Goths through a performance lens. The performance theories of Victor Turner (1986) and Richard Schechner (1988) form the foundation of this study.
This paper reveals the types of Goth performers and the motivations behind their performance namely; acceptance, entertainment and expression. Light is shed on who witnesses the performance and the landscapes in which performances take place. Performance stages include a local as well as global landscape, from graveyards and clubs to the media, with each space influencing the performance output. Performance of identity is another key factor in this paper. This area shows that Goths perform three subcultural styles which convey their identity. These styles include (1) aesthetic, (2) creative and (3) music.
There are many misconceptions surrounding Goths in society. An analysis of Goths using the lens of performance offered in this paper should provide a clearer understanding of the Goth lifestyle and help to shatter the negative misconceptions of Goths held by society.
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Conference Presentations by Rachelle Keeling
The near complete Plio-Pleistocene aged Australopithecus sediba hominin specimens from the Malapa site, South Africa were analysed to determine whether soft tissue in the form of fossilised skin may have been preserved. The taphonomic condition of the fossils suggests rapid burial, lack of predation, but some insect damage, making the preservation environment at Malapa exceptional. Any soft tissue found with the hominins, represented by MH1 (Malapa Hominid 1) and MH2 (Malapa Hominid 2) would be of some considerable value, although such preservation is at present unrecognized in the early hominin record.
A multidisciplinary approach that combined morphological techniques (optical coherence tomography, three-dimensional laser scans, micro-CT scans and light microscopy) in association with molecular imaging (Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared) investigated whether original organics may be recovered. Two primary specimens were analysed – a cranium sample from MH1 and mandible specimen from MH2. The examination included an analysis of soft tissue decomposition potential to determine whether the depositional environment may have facilitated soft tissue preservation. Overall the study produced a provocative body of evidence that the specimens were indeed organic in origin. The significance of such a discovery could provide insight into our understanding of ancient hominin behaviour, biological pathways and taphonomic processes.
Support for this research was provided by the African Origins Platform of the Department of Science and Technology (South Africa), the National Geographic Society, the Gauteng Provincial Government, the National Research Foundation (South Africa), the University of the Witwatersrand and numerous other donors. "
The near complete Plio-Pleistocene aged Australopithecus sediba hominin specimens from the Malapa site, South Africa were analysed to determine whether soft tissue in the form of fossilised skin may have been preserved. The taphonomic condition of the fossils suggests rapid burial, lack of predation, but some insect damage, making the preservation environment at Malapa exceptional. Any soft tissue found with the hominins, represented by MH1 (Malapa Hominid 1) and MH2 (Malapa Hominid 2) would be of some considerable value, although such preservation is at present unrecognized in the early hominin record. A multidisciplinary approach that combined morphological and molecular imaging techniques investigated whether original organics may be recovered. The overall the study produced a provocative body of evidence that the specimens were indeed organic in origin. The significance of such a discovery could provide insight into our understanding of ancient hominin behaviour, biological pathways and taphonomic processes.
This research paper draws on a year’s research, using in-depth interviews, questionnaires and participant observation, as well as two years of analysis and reflection. The investigation revealed that Goths ‘perform’ their subculture. Performance forms the focus of this study. Performance theory is hence used as a framework to analyse Goths and provide new ways of understanding them as a social and cultural group. No study has looked at Goths through a performance lens. The performance theories of Victor Turner (1986) and Richard Schechner (1988) form the foundation of this study.
This paper reveals the types of Goth performers and the motivations behind their performance namely; acceptance, entertainment and expression. Light is shed on who witnesses the performance and the landscapes in which performances take place. Performance stages include a local as well as global landscape, from graveyards and clubs to the media, with each space influencing the performance output. Performance of identity is another key factor in this paper. This area shows that Goths perform three subcultural styles which convey their identity. These styles include (1) aesthetic, (2) creative and (3) music.
There are many misconceptions surrounding Goths in society. An analysis of Goths using the lens of performance offered in this paper should provide a clearer understanding of the Goth lifestyle and help to shatter the negative misconceptions of Goths held by society.
The near complete Plio-Pleistocene aged Australopithecus sediba hominin specimens from the Malapa site, South Africa were analysed to determine whether soft tissue in the form of fossilised skin may have been preserved. The taphonomic condition of the fossils suggests rapid burial, lack of predation, but some insect damage, making the preservation environment at Malapa exceptional. Any soft tissue found with the hominins, represented by MH1 (Malapa Hominid 1) and MH2 (Malapa Hominid 2) would be of some considerable value, although such preservation is at present unrecognized in the early hominin record.
A multidisciplinary approach that combined morphological techniques (optical coherence tomography, three-dimensional laser scans, micro-CT scans and light microscopy) in association with molecular imaging (Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared) investigated whether original organics may be recovered. Two primary specimens were analysed – a cranium sample from MH1 and mandible specimen from MH2. The examination included an analysis of soft tissue decomposition potential to determine whether the depositional environment may have facilitated soft tissue preservation. Overall the study produced a provocative body of evidence that the specimens were indeed organic in origin. The significance of such a discovery could provide insight into our understanding of ancient hominin behaviour, biological pathways and taphonomic processes.
Support for this research was provided by the African Origins Platform of the Department of Science and Technology (South Africa), the National Geographic Society, the Gauteng Provincial Government, the National Research Foundation (South Africa), the University of the Witwatersrand and numerous other donors. "
The near complete Plio-Pleistocene aged Australopithecus sediba hominin specimens from the Malapa site, South Africa were analysed to determine whether soft tissue in the form of fossilised skin may have been preserved. The taphonomic condition of the fossils suggests rapid burial, lack of predation, but some insect damage, making the preservation environment at Malapa exceptional. Any soft tissue found with the hominins, represented by MH1 (Malapa Hominid 1) and MH2 (Malapa Hominid 2) would be of some considerable value, although such preservation is at present unrecognized in the early hominin record. A multidisciplinary approach that combined morphological and molecular imaging techniques investigated whether original organics may be recovered. The overall the study produced a provocative body of evidence that the specimens were indeed organic in origin. The significance of such a discovery could provide insight into our understanding of ancient hominin behaviour, biological pathways and taphonomic processes.
This research paper draws on a year’s research, using in-depth interviews, questionnaires and participant observation, as well as two years of analysis and reflection. The investigation revealed that Goths ‘perform’ their subculture. Performance forms the focus of this study. Performance theory is hence used as a framework to analyse Goths and provide new ways of understanding them as a social and cultural group. No study has looked at Goths through a performance lens. The performance theories of Victor Turner (1986) and Richard Schechner (1988) form the foundation of this study.
This paper reveals the types of Goth performers and the motivations behind their performance namely; acceptance, entertainment and expression. Light is shed on who witnesses the performance and the landscapes in which performances take place. Performance stages include a local as well as global landscape, from graveyards and clubs to the media, with each space influencing the performance output. Performance of identity is another key factor in this paper. This area shows that Goths perform three subcultural styles which convey their identity. These styles include (1) aesthetic, (2) creative and (3) music.
There are many misconceptions surrounding Goths in society. An analysis of Goths using the lens of performance offered in this paper should provide a clearer understanding of the Goth lifestyle and help to shatter the negative misconceptions of Goths held by society.