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Prof. Francis Thackeray | Paleontology | Excellence in Research

proffesor, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

Professor Francis Thackeray is a renowned South African paleontologist and anthropologist, currently affiliated with the University of the Witwatersrand. He holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Yale University and has had a distinguished career in the fields of human evolution, paleontology, and archaeology. Thackeray’s research focuses on the interaction between early humans and their environment, particularly through the study of faunal remains from Southern Africa. He has held leadership roles, including Director of the Institute of Human Evolution at the University of the Witwatersrand, and served as the President of several prominent scientific societies, including the South African Archaeological Society and the Royal Society of South Africa. Thackeray is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa and has contributed significantly to the advancement of science communication in the region.

Professional Profile

Education

Professor Francis Thackeray is a distinguished South African paleontologist and anthropologist with a career that spans several decades, contributing significantly to the fields of human evolution, paleontology, and archaeology. He earned his Ph.D. in Anthropology from Yale University in 1984, where his dissertation titled Man, Animals and Extinctions: The Analysis of Holocene Faunal Remains from Wonderwerk Cave, South Africa examined the relationship between early humans and extinct species. Prior to his doctoral work, Thackeray completed an M.Phil. in Anthropology at Yale in 1979 and an M.Sc. in Environmental Studies at the University of Cape Town in 1977. His academic journey began with a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Archaeology from the University of Cape Town (1975), and he also holds a B.Sc. in Zoology and Archaeology from the same institution (1974).

Professional Experience

In his professional career, Thackeray has held various leadership and academic positions, further cementing his reputation in the scientific community. He served as the Director of the Institute of Human Evolution at the University of the Witwatersrand from 2009 to 2013 and as a Paleoanthropologist at the Evolutionary Studies Institute of the same university from 2013 to 2017. Earlier, he was the Director of the Transvaal Museum (now the Ditsong National Museum of Natural History) from 2007 to 2009, having worked there as a paleontologist from 1990 to 2006. He also held roles as a researcher and assistant at institutions such as the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University, beginning his career in the 1970s.

Research Interests

Thackeray’s research interests are deeply rooted in the study of human evolution, particularly the environmental and ecological factors that influenced the development of early human societies in Southern Africa.

Publications Top Notes

Probabilistic sigma taxonomy of Darwin’s finches (Galápagos)
Author: Thackeray, F.
Journal: Zoomorphology
Year: 2024
Volume: 143(2), pp. 489–493
Citations: 0

Revisiting mandibular symphyseal shape in juvenile early hominins and modern humans using a deformation-based approach
Authors: Zimmer, V.A., Oettlé, A., Hoffmann, J., Zipfel, B., Braga, J.
Journal: Folia Primatologica
Year: 2023
Volume: 443(7109)
Citations: 0

Hominin fossils from Kromdraai and Drimolen inform Paranthropus robustus craniofacial ontogeny
Authors: Braga, J., Wood, B.A., Zimmer, V.A., Zipfel, B., Grine, F.E.
Journal: Science Advances
Year: 2023
Volume: 9(18), eade7165
Citations: 6

The Kromdraai early hominin-bearing site. A review of recent findings
Authors: Braga, J., Thackeray, J.F., Zipfel, B.
Journal: Anthropologie (France)
Year: 2022
Volume: 126(4), 103054
Citations: 4

A new early hominin calcaneus from Kromdraai (South Africa)
Authors: Harper, C.M., Zipfel, B., DeSilva, J.M., Thackeray, F., Braga, J.
Journal: Journal of Anatomy
Year: 2022
Volume: 241(2), pp. 500–517
Citations: 7

Dental data challenge the ubiquitous presence of Homo in the Cradle of Humankind
Authors: Zanolli, C., Davies, T.W., Joannes-Boyau, R., Zipfel, B., Skinner, M.M.
Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Year: 2022
Volume: 119(28), e2111212119
Citations: 13

The use of Z-scores to facilitate morphometric comparisons between African Plio-Pleistocene hominin fossils: An example of method
Authors: Thackeray, F., Kullmer, O.
Journal: South African Journal of Science
Year: 2022
Volume: 118(112), #11182
Citations: 0

Morphometric (‘log sem’) analysis of anatomical measurements of Galápagos finches (Geospiza), chimpanzees (Pan), and Plio-Pleistocene hominins (Paranthropus, Australopithecus and early Homo)
Authors: Thackeray, F., J.
Journal: South African Journal of Science
Year: 2022
Volume: 118(112), #11913
Citations: 1

Cochlear shape distinguishes southern African early hominin taxa with unique auditory ecologies
Authors: Braga, J., Samir, C., Fradi, A., Wood, B.A., Grine, F.E.
Journal: Scientific Reports
Year: 2021
Volume: 11(1), 17018

Conclusion

Professor Francis Thackeray’s exceptional academic qualifications, pioneering research on human evolution and extinct species, along with his leadership roles in both academic and scientific organizations, make him an outstanding candidate for the Research for Excellence in Research award. His work not only enhances the scientific community’s understanding of ancient life and human evolution but also contributes to science communication and the preservation of knowledge in the field of paleontology. His career embodies a lifelong commitment to excellence in research, leadership, and public engagement, further reinforcing his suitability for such a prestigious accolade.

Francis Thackeray | Paleontology | Excellence in Research

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