Pleistocene micromammals from Wonderwerk Cave, South Africa: practical issues

The combination of large samples and broken material raises practical issues and potential problems that may be undetectable in smaller samples. Informal identification keys are provided to indicate the types of non-dental features that may be usefully employed when standard features are not present. This process has so far been taken to the generic level. The ratio of minimum numbers of individuals based on mandibles alone (MD) to those obtained using mandibles and maxillae (MNI) varies from 0.59 in Gerbillinae to 0.97 in Macroscelididae, thereby demonstrating that counting only mandibles will skew sample structure. Differential difficulty of identification at lower taxonomic levels, combined with differential susceptibility to breakage, also influences the likelihood that the proportional representation of taxa will be correct.