Bernhard Zipfel
Biographic Data
| ID | 117579 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Bernhard Zipfel |
| GIVEN NAMES | Bernhard |
| FAMILY NAME | Zipfel |
| SIGNATURE | ZIPFEL B |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of the Witwatersrand |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-4251-884X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 27 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 106 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 26 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2006 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
Catalogue of immature hominin fossils from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
Conclusions: This comprehensive catalogue of immature fossils provides a critical resource for investigating morphological variation, life history traits, and evolutionary adaptations across hominin genera. It underscores the significance of South African fossil collections in exploring developmental patterns and evolutionary pathways leading to the extended life cycle characteristic of Homo sapiens
Ecomorphological analysis of bovid remains from the Plio-Pleistocene hominin-bearing deposit of Unit P at Kromdraai, South Africa
An overlooked Australopithecus brain endocast from Makapansgat, South Africa
Les sinus frontaux au cours de l'évolution humaine
Les sinus frontaux sont des cavités qui se situent à l’intérieur de l’os frontal, à la jonction entre le visage et la voûte crânienne, et à proximité du cerveau. Nous proposons l’étude la plus complète jamais réalisée de ces sinus, grâce à une méthodologie facile à mettre en œuvre et reproductible. La taille des sinus frontaux est corrélée à la taille du crâne, et en lien avec celle des reliefs osseux situés au-dessus des orbites, chez les chimpa…
The Early Hominin Foot
The Kromdraai early hominin-bearing site. A review of recent findings
Overlooked or Unimportant? An Overview of the Coprolite Collections at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Fossilized feces, termed coprolites, provide unique information on digestive systems, diets, and ecosystems of extinct animals, and are potentially useful for palynology, biostratigraphy and preservation of animal and plant remains. Despite this broad utility, scientific enquiry into coprolites has been relatively sparse. We carried out a systematic investigation into 23 significant South African fossil collections of the Evolutionary Studies Ins…
Cochlear morphology of Indonesian Homo erectus from Sangiran
Trabecular bone properties in the ilium of the Middle Paleolithic/Middle Stone Age Border Cave 3 Homo sapiens infant and the onset of independent gait
Hominin Postcranial Remains from Sterkfontein, South Africa, 1936-1995
Associated Australopithecus afarensis second and third metatarsals (A.L. 333-133) from Hadar, Ethiopia
One small step: A review of Plio‐Pleistocene hominin foot evolution
Bipedalism is a hallmark of being human and the human foot is modified to reflect this unique form of locomotion. Leonardo da Vinci is credited with calling the human foot “a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.” However, a scientific approach to human origins has revealed that our feet are products of a long, evolutionary history in which a mobile, grasping organ has been converted into a propulsive structure adapted for the rigors of b…
Genetic data and radiocarbon dating question Plovers Lake as a Middle Stone Age hominin-bearing site
The evolution of the human foot
There are 26 bones in each foot (52 in total), meaning that roughly a quarter of the human skeleton consists of foot bones. Yet, early hominin foot fossils are frustratingly rare, making it quite difficult to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the human foot. Despite the continued paucity of hominid or hominin foot fossils from the late Miocene and early Pliocene, the last decade has witnessed the discovery of an extraordinary number of earl…
Using springbok (Antidorcas) dietary proxies to reconstruct inferred palaeovegetational changes over 2 million years in Southern Africa
A quantification of calcaneal lateral plantar process position with implications for bipedal locomotion in Australopithecus
Trabecular architecture in the StW 352 fossil hominin calcaneus
The foot of Homo naledi
Modern humans are characterized by a highly specialized foot that reflects our obligate bipedalism. Our understanding of hominin foot evolution is, although, hindered by a paucity of well-associated remains. Here we describe the foot of Homo naledi from Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa, using 107 pedal elements, including one nearly-complete adult foot. The H. naledi foot is predominantly modern human-like in morphology and inferred function, with …
Recent origin of low trabecular bone density in modern humans
Significance The human skeleton is unique in having low trabecular density representing a lightly built human body form. However, it remains unknown when during human evolution this unique characteristic first appeared. To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine trabecular bone density throughout the skeleton of fossil hominins spanning several million years. The results show that trabecular density remained high throughout human evolut…
The Lower Limb and Mechanics of Walking in Australopithecus sediba
The discovery of a relatively complete Australopithecus sediba adult female skeleton permits a detailed locomotor analysis in which joint systems can be integrated to form a comprehensive picture of gait kinematics in this late australopith. Here we describe the lower limb anatomy of Au. sediba and hypothesize that this species walked with a fully extended leg and with an inverted foot during the swing phase of bipedal walking. Initial contact of…
Brief communication: Radiographic study of metatarsal one basal epiphyseal fusion: A note of caution on age determination
This study examines radiographs of first metatarsals of 131 individuals from age 17–88 years to determine whether internal basal epiphyseal lines may be visible past the age of metatarsal fusion, which usually occurs between 14 and 16 years of age (Scheuer and Black: The juvenile skeleton. San Diego: Elsevier Academic Press, 2004 ). In 29% (38 out of 131) of the radiographed first metatarsals (MT1s) the basal epiphyseal scar is visible, including…
A complete second metatarsal (StW 89) from Sterkfontein Member 4, South Africa
The Foot and Ankle of Australopithecus sediba
Australopithecus sediba had a human-like ankle and arch but an ape-like heel and tibia, implying that while bipedal, this species was also adept at climbing trees.
Earliest complete hominin fifth metatarsal: Implications for the evolution of the lateral column of the foot
The Olduvai Hominid 8 foot: Adult or subadult
Earliest complete hominin fifth metatarsal—Implications for the evolution of the lateral column of the foot
StW 114/115, from Sterkfontein, South Africa, is the earliest complete hominin fifth metatarsal. Comparisons of StW 114/115 to modern humans, extant apes, and partial hominin metatarsals AL 333‐13, AL 333‐78, SKX 33380, OH 8, and KNM‐ER 803f reveal a similar morphology in all six fossils consistent with habitual bipedality. Although StW 114/115 possesses some primitive characters, the proximal articular morphology and internal torsion of the head…
Trabecular architecture in the StW 352 fossil hominin calcaneus
A complete second metatarsal (StW 89) from Sterkfontein Member 4, South Africa
The Olduvai Hominid 8 foot: Adult or subadult
A quantification of calcaneal lateral plantar process position with implications for bipedal locomotion in Australopithecus
Hominin first metatarsals (SKX 5017 and SK 1813) from Swartkrans: A morphometric analysis
Cochlear morphology of Indonesian Homo erectus from Sangiran
Genetic data and radiocarbon dating question Plovers Lake as a Middle Stone Age hominin-bearing site
Overlooked or Unimportant? An Overview of the Coprolite Collections at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Fossilized feces, termed coprolites, provide unique information on digestive systems, diets, and ecosystems of extinct animals, and are potentially useful for palynology, biostratigraphy and preservation of animal and plant remains. Despite this broad utility, scientific enquiry into coprolites has been relatively sparse. We carried out a systematic investigation into 23 significant South African fossil collections of the Evolutionary Studies Ins…
Using springbok (Antidorcas) dietary proxies to reconstruct inferred palaeovegetational changes over 2 million years in Southern Africa
Brief communication: Radiographic study of metatarsal one basal epiphyseal fusion: A note of caution on age determination
This study examines radiographs of first metatarsals of 131 individuals from age 17–88 years to determine whether internal basal epiphyseal lines may be visible past the age of metatarsal fusion, which usually occurs between 14 and 16 years of age (Scheuer and Black: The juvenile skeleton. San Diego: Elsevier Academic Press, 2004 ). In 29% (38 out of 131) of the radiographed first metatarsals (MT1s) the basal epiphyseal scar is visible, including…
Catalogue of immature hominin fossils from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
Conclusions: This comprehensive catalogue of immature fossils provides a critical resource for investigating morphological variation, life history traits, and evolutionary adaptations across hominin genera. It underscores the significance of South African fossil collections in exploring developmental patterns and evolutionary pathways leading to the extended life cycle characteristic of Homo sapiens
Trabecular bone properties in the ilium of the Middle Paleolithic/Middle Stone Age Border Cave 3 Homo sapiens infant and the onset of independent gait
Associated Australopithecus afarensis second and third metatarsals (A.L. 333-133) from Hadar, Ethiopia
Hominin first metatarsals (SKX 5017 and SK 1813) from Swartkrans: A morphometric analysis
Earliest complete hominin fifth metatarsal—Implications for the evolution of the lateral column of the foot
StW 114/115, from Sterkfontein, South Africa, is the earliest complete hominin fifth metatarsal. Comparisons of StW 114/115 to modern humans, extant apes, and partial hominin metatarsals AL 333‐13, AL 333‐78, SKX 33380, OH 8, and KNM‐ER 803f reveal a similar morphology in all six fossils consistent with habitual bipedality. Although StW 114/115 possesses some primitive characters, the proximal articular morphology and internal torsion of the head…
Earliest complete hominin fifth metatarsal: Implications for the evolution of the lateral column of the foot
The Olduvai Hominid 8 foot: Adult or subadult
The Foot and Ankle of Australopithecus sediba
Australopithecus sediba had a human-like ankle and arch but an ape-like heel and tibia, implying that while bipedal, this species was also adept at climbing trees.
Brief communication: Radiographic study of metatarsal one basal epiphyseal fusion: A note of caution on age determination
This study examines radiographs of first metatarsals of 131 individuals from age 17–88 years to determine whether internal basal epiphyseal lines may be visible past the age of metatarsal fusion, which usually occurs between 14 and 16 years of age (Scheuer and Black: The juvenile skeleton. San Diego: Elsevier Academic Press, 2004 ). In 29% (38 out of 131) of the radiographed first metatarsals (MT1s) the basal epiphyseal scar is visible, including…
A complete second metatarsal (StW 89) from Sterkfontein Member 4, South Africa
The Lower Limb and Mechanics of Walking in Australopithecus sediba
The discovery of a relatively complete Australopithecus sediba adult female skeleton permits a detailed locomotor analysis in which joint systems can be integrated to form a comprehensive picture of gait kinematics in this late australopith. Here we describe the lower limb anatomy of Au. sediba and hypothesize that this species walked with a fully extended leg and with an inverted foot during the swing phase of bipedal walking. Initial contact of…
The foot of Homo naledi
Modern humans are characterized by a highly specialized foot that reflects our obligate bipedalism. Our understanding of hominin foot evolution is, although, hindered by a paucity of well-associated remains. Here we describe the foot of Homo naledi from Dinaledi Chamber, South Africa, using 107 pedal elements, including one nearly-complete adult foot. The H. naledi foot is predominantly modern human-like in morphology and inferred function, with …
Recent origin of low trabecular bone density in modern humans
Significance The human skeleton is unique in having low trabecular density representing a lightly built human body form. However, it remains unknown when during human evolution this unique characteristic first appeared. To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine trabecular bone density throughout the skeleton of fossil hominins spanning several million years. The results show that trabecular density remained high throughout human evolut…
Trabecular architecture in the StW 352 fossil hominin calcaneus
The evolution of the human foot
There are 26 bones in each foot (52 in total), meaning that roughly a quarter of the human skeleton consists of foot bones. Yet, early hominin foot fossils are frustratingly rare, making it quite difficult to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the human foot. Despite the continued paucity of hominid or hominin foot fossils from the late Miocene and early Pliocene, the last decade has witnessed the discovery of an extraordinary number of earl…
Using springbok (Antidorcas) dietary proxies to reconstruct inferred palaeovegetational changes over 2 million years in Southern Africa
A quantification of calcaneal lateral plantar process position with implications for bipedal locomotion in Australopithecus
One small step: A review of Plio‐Pleistocene hominin foot evolution
Bipedalism is a hallmark of being human and the human foot is modified to reflect this unique form of locomotion. Leonardo da Vinci is credited with calling the human foot “a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.” However, a scientific approach to human origins has revealed that our feet are products of a long, evolutionary history in which a mobile, grasping organ has been converted into a propulsive structure adapted for the rigors of b…
Genetic data and radiocarbon dating question Plovers Lake as a Middle Stone Age hominin-bearing site
Hominin Postcranial Remains from Sterkfontein, South Africa, 1936-1995
Associated Australopithecus afarensis second and third metatarsals (A.L. 333-133) from Hadar, Ethiopia
Trabecular bone properties in the ilium of the Middle Paleolithic/Middle Stone Age Border Cave 3 Homo sapiens infant and the onset of independent gait
The Early Hominin Foot
The Kromdraai early hominin-bearing site. A review of recent findings
Overlooked or Unimportant? An Overview of the Coprolite Collections at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Fossilized feces, termed coprolites, provide unique information on digestive systems, diets, and ecosystems of extinct animals, and are potentially useful for palynology, biostratigraphy and preservation of animal and plant remains. Despite this broad utility, scientific enquiry into coprolites has been relatively sparse. We carried out a systematic investigation into 23 significant South African fossil collections of the Evolutionary Studies Ins…
Cochlear morphology of Indonesian Homo erectus from Sangiran
An overlooked Australopithecus brain endocast from Makapansgat, South Africa
Les sinus frontaux au cours de l'évolution humaine
Les sinus frontaux sont des cavités qui se situent à l’intérieur de l’os frontal, à la jonction entre le visage et la voûte crânienne, et à proximité du cerveau. Nous proposons l’étude la plus complète jamais réalisée de ces sinus, grâce à une méthodologie facile à mettre en œuvre et reproductible. La taille des sinus frontaux est corrélée à la taille du crâne, et en lien avec celle des reliefs osseux situés au-dessus des orbites, chez les chimpa…
Biology (22 works) · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology (22 works) · Paleontology (17 works) · Evolutionary biology (15 works) · Paleontology (15 works) · Anatomy (14 works) · Evolution and Paleontology Studies (14 works) · Bipedalism (13 works) · Geography (12 works) · Primate Behavior and Ecology (12 works)