African Genesis revisited: reflections on Raymond Dart and the ‘predatory transition from ape(-man) to man’

Recent re-analyses of faunal assemblages from the Swartkrans site in South Africa challenge long-standing assumptions about early hominid behavior, revealing that Homo erectus likely engaged in regular hunting and effective scavenging. This contradicts earlier taphonomic studies that suggested australopithecines were primarily prey for large carnivores. The findings align with the high energy demands of H. erectus, implying a diet rich in meat and marrow. While Raymond Dart's 'killer ape' hypothesis was largely disproven, his broader concept of a 'predatory transition' from ape-like to human-like adaptations appears validated by current evidence.

Pickering, T. R. (2012). African Genesis revisited: reflections on Raymond Dart and the ‘predatory transition from ape(-man) to man’. African Genesis, 487–505. https://doi.org/10.1017/cbo9781139096164.029