Bomb-spike dating of a mummified baboon in Ludwig Cave, Namibia

INTRODUCTION Caves are natural traps and as such are important repositories for both animal and human remains. Hominid remains dating to >4 Ma have been recovered from breccias in South African caves such as Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, and Kromdraai (e.g. Brain, 1981). Uncemented remains of animals are commonly found in the caves of arid lands. For example, bones of a Giant Ground Sloth (Glossotherium harlani), that may have weighed 900 kg, were recovered from a chamber ca. 64 m underground in Grand Canyon Caverns, in western Arizona. The Giant Sloth became extinct between 20 and 11 ka. In the same cave a mummified bobcat was found ca. AD 1950 and was presumed to be about 100 years old at that time (www. desertusa.com). In fact, naturally mummified animals are frequently encountered in arid land caves due to localized dry microclimates that prevent decay. Commonly, the animal falls into the cave or enters via steep or slippery slopes and cannot escape. A difficult entry also denies access to scavenging animals, thus preserving the carcass. In arid areas, animals trapped in caves can Hodgins G., Brook G.A. and Marais E. 2007. Bomb-spike dating of a mummified baboon in Ludwig Cave, Namibia. International Journal of Speleology, 36 (1), 31-38. Bologna (Italy). ISSN 0392-6672.