Sally Reynolds

Dr Sally Reynolds

  • Associate Professor
  • Christchurch House C116, Talbot Campus, Fern Barrow, Poole, BH12 5BB
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Biography

I am a South African born mammalian palaeontologist, working on a variety of global projects, including the oldest dated footprints in the New World from White Sands National Park in New Mexico (USA), the oldest dated art from the Tibetean Plateau and also extensive work on the African Plio-Pleistocene fauna as a means to understand hominin palaeoecology.

I'm passionate about getting more women into STEM subjects, and to using the fossil and archaeological record with new computational approaches and ways of addressing present-day challenges by using data from the past to inform current behaviour.

I qualified at University of Pretoria (1996) BA (hons) and MSc at the University of the Witwatersrand (1998, 2002). I did my PhD degree at the Liverpool John Moores University (2005). In have been at Bournemouth University since 2014,

I am currently supervising six PhD students on aspects of the hominin habitats, both through multiproxy dietary data, but also through niche modelling and Agent-based modelling and aspects of modern anatomy with implications for hominin evolution.

Research

We are currently using remote sensing to characterize the behaviour of certain landscapes and wetlands over decadal time-scales. This research is indicating that certain wetland areas are able to buffer against the local drying trends and provide a degree of localised refuge from climatic extremes. This has important implications for how we view and understand palaeo-wetlands, like Olduvai Gorge, which hosted hominin species over many millennia.

I am using modern dental wear on human volunteers of known plants to create a record of distinctive tooth wear associated with African edible plants that hominin and ancient peoples may have used as part of their staple diet. Examples include Egyptian papyrus stalks and rhisomes (Cyperus papyrus).

Journal Articles

  • Sebata, A., Fynn, R.W.S., Keemekae, T., Reynolds, S., Huruba, R., Murwira, K., Mubaira, D., Kamanda, M., Muzvondiwa, J.V. and MacFadyen, D.N., 2023. The role of ancient human settlements in creating nutrient hotspots in a savanna ecosystem, central Zimbabwe. Journal of Arid Environments, 219.
  • Bennett, M.R., Budka, M., Belvedere, M. and Reynolds, S., 2022. Deploying augmented reality to help engage the public with palaeontological applications. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 133 (1), 22-31.
  • Pigati, J.S., Springer, K.B., Bennett, M.R., Bustos, D., Urban, T.M., Holliday, V.T., Reynolds, S.C. and Odess, D., 2022. Response to Comment on "evidence of humans in North America during the Last Glacial Maximum". Science, 375 (6577).
  • Pigati, J.S., Springer, K.B., Holliday, V.T., Bennett, M.R., Bustos, D., Urban, T.M., Reynolds, S.C. and Odess, D., 2022. Reply to “Evidence for Humans at White Sands National Park during the Last Glacial Maximum Could Actually be for Clovis People ∼13,000 Years Ago” by C. Vance Haynes, Jr. PaleoAmerica, 8 (2), 99-101.
  • Zhang, D.D. et al., 2021. Earliest parietal art: hominin hand and foot traces from the middle Pleistocene of Tibet. Science Bulletin, 66 (24), 2506-2515.
  • Bennett, M.R., Reynolds, S.C., Budka, M. et al., 2021. Evidence of humans in North America during the Last Glacial Maximum. Science, 373 (6562), 1528-1531.
  • Budka, M., Bennett, M.R., Reynolds, S.C., Barefoot, S., Reel, S., Reidy, S. and Walker, J., 2021. Sexing white 2D footprints using convolutional neural networks. PLoS ONE, 16 (8 August).
  • Bennett, M.R., Bustos, D., Odess, D., Urban, T.M., Lallensack, J.N., Budka, M., Santucci, V.L., Martinez, P., Wiseman, A.L.A. and Reynolds, S.C., 2020. Walking in mud: Remarkable Pleistocene human trackways from White Sands National Park (New Mexico). Quaternary Science Reviews, 249.
  • Altamura, F., Bennett, M.R., Marchetti, L., Melis, R.T., Reynolds, S.C. and Mussi, M., 2020. Ichnological and archaeological evidence from Gombore II OAM, Melka Kunture, Ethiopia: An integrated approach to reconstruct local environments and biological presences between 1.2 and 0.85 Ma. Quaternary Science Reviews, 244.
  • Urban, T.M., Bennett, M.R., Bustos, D., Manning, S.W., Reynolds, S.C., Belvedere, M., Odess, D. and Santucci, V.L., 2019. 3-D radar imaging unlocks the untapped behavioral and biomechanical archive of Pleistocene ghost tracks. Scientific Reports, 9 (1).
  • Bennett, M.R., Bustos, D., Belvedere, M., Martinez, P., Reynolds, S.C. and Urban, T., 2019. Soft-sediment deformation below mammoth tracks at White Sands National Monument (New Mexico) with implications for biomechanical inferences from tracks. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 527, 25-38.
  • Sewell, L., Merceron, G., Hopley, P.J., Zipfel, B. and Reynolds, S.C., 2019. Using springbok (Antidorcas) dietary proxies to reconstruct inferred palaeovegetational changes over 2 million years in Southern Africa. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 23, 1014-1028.
  • Marston, C.G., Wilkinson, D.M., Reynolds, S.C., Louys, J. and O’Regan, H.J., 2019. Water availability is a principal driver of large-scale land cover spatial heterogeneity in sub-Saharan savannahs. Landscape Ecology, 34 (1), 131-145.
  • Altamura, F., Bennett, M.R., D'août, K., Gaudzinski-Windheuser, S., Melis, R.T., Reynolds, S.C. and Mussi, M., 2018. Archaeology and ichnology at Gombore II-2, Melka Kunture, Ethiopia: everyday life of a mixed-age hominin group 700,000 years ago. Scientific Reports, 8 (1).
  • Bustos, D., Budka, M., Reynolds, S.C., Bennett, M.R. et al., 2018. Footprints preserve terminal Pleistocene hunt? Human-sloth interactions in North America. Science Advances, 4 (4).
  • Belvedere, M., Bennett, M.R., Marty, D., Budka, M., Reynolds, S.C. and Bakirov, R., 2018. Stat-tracks and mediotypes: Powerful tools for modern ichnology based on 3D models. PeerJ, 2018 (1).
  • Cuthbert, M.O., Gleeson, T., Reynolds, S.C., Bennett, M.R., Newton, A.C., McCormack, C.J. and Ashley, G.M., 2017. Modelling the role of groundwater hydro-refugia in East African hominin evolution and dispersal. Nature Communications, 8.
  • Bennett, M.R., Reynolds, S.C., Morse, S.A. and Budka, M., 2016. Footprints and human evolution: Homeostasis in foot function? Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 461, 214-223.
  • Reynolds, S.C., Marston, C.G., Hassani, H., King, G.C.P. and Bennett, M.R., 2016. Environmental hydro-refugia demonstrated by vegetation vigour in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Scientific Reports, 6.
  • Kubler, S., Rucina, S., Reynolds, S., Owenga, P., Bailey, G. and King, G.C.P., 2016. Edaphic and topographic constraints on exploitation of the Central Kenya Rift by large mammals and early hominins. Open Quaternary, 2 (5), 1-18.
  • Marston, C.G., Giraudoux, P., Armitage, R.P., Danson, F.M., Reynolds, S.C., Wang, Q., Qiu, J. and Craig, P.S., 2016. Vegetation phenology and habitat discrimination: Impacts for E. multilocularis transmission host modelling. Remote Sensing of Environment, 176, 320-327.
  • Bennett, M.R., Reynolds, S.C., Morse, S.A. and Budka, M., 2016. Laetoli's lost tracks: 3D generated mean shape and missing footprints. Scientific Reports, 6.
  • Kübler, S., Rucina, S., Reynolds, S., Owenga, P., Bailey, G. and King, G.C.P., 2016. Edaphic and topographic constraints on exploitation of the central Kenya rift by large mammals and early hominins. Open Quaternary, 2.
  • Kübler, S., Owenga, P., Reynolds, S.C., Rucina, S.M. and King, G.C.P., 2015. Animal movements in the Kenya Rift and evidence for the earliest ambush hunting by hominins. Scientific Reports, 5.
  • Devès, M.H., Reynolds, S., King, G.C.P., Kuebler, S., Sturdy, D. and Godet, N., 2015. Insights from Earth Sciences into Human Evolution studies: The example of prehistoric landscape use in Africa and the Levant. Comptes Rendus - Geoscience, 347 (4), 201-211.
  • Reynolds, S.C., Wilkinson, D.M., Marston, C.G. and O'Regan, H.J., 2015. The ‘mosaic habitat’ concept in human evolution: past and present. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, Vol. 70 (1).
  • Reynolds, S.C., Wilkinson, D.M., Marston, C.G. and O'Regan, H.J., 2015. The 'mosaic habitat' concept in human evolution: Past and present. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 70 (1), 57-69.
  • Reynolds, S.C., 2012. Nyctereutes terblanchei: The raccoon dog that never was. South African Journal of Science, 108 (1/2).
  • Reynolds, S.C., 2012. Nyctereutes terblanchei: The raccoon dog that never was. South African Journal of Science, 108 (1-2).
  • Reynolds, S.C. and Kibii, J.M., 2011. Sterkfontein at 75: review of paleoenvironments, fauna, dating and archaeology from the hominin site of Sterkfontein (Gauteng Province, South Africa). Palaeontologia africana, 46, 59-88.
  • Reynolds, S.C., Bailey, G.N. and King, G.C.P., 2011. Landscapes and their relation to hominin habitats: Case studies from Australopithecus sites in eastern and southern Africa. Journal of Human Evolution, 60, 281-298.
  • Bailey, G.N., Reynolds, S.C. and King, G.C.P., 2011. Landscapes of human evolution: models and methods of tectonic geomorphology and the reconstruction of hominin landscapes. Journal of Human Evolution, 60, 257-280.
  • Reynolds, S.C., 2010. Morphological evaluation of genetic evidence for a Pleistocene extirpation of eastern African impala. South African Journal of Science, 106 (11/12).
  • Reynolds, S.C., 2010. Where the Wild Things Were: Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Carnivores in the Cradle of Humankind (Gauteng, South Africa) in Relation to the Accumulation of Mammalian and Hominin Assemblages. Journal of Taphonomy, 8 (2-3), 233-257.
  • Reynolds, S.C., 2010. Morphological evaluation of genetic evidence for a Pleistocene extirpation of eastern African impala. South African Journal of Science, 106 (11-12).
  • O' Regan, H.J. and Reynolds, S.C., 2009. An ecological reassessment of the southern African carnivore guild: a case study from Member 4, Sterkfontein, South Africa. Journal of Human Evolution, 57, 212-222.
  • Reynolds, S.C., 2008. Sterkfontein Early Hominid Site in the 'Cradle of Humankind'. SOUTH AFRICAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL BULLETIN, 63 (188), 177.
  • Reynolds, S.C., 2007. Mammalian body size changes and Plio-Pleistocene environmental shifts: implications for understanding hominin evolution in eastern and southern Africa. Journal of Human Evolution, 53, 528-548.
  • Reynolds, S.C., Clarke, R.J. and Kuman, K.A., 2007. The view from the Lincoln Cave: mid- to late Pleistocene fossil deposits from Sterkfontein hominid site, South Africa. Journal of Human Evolution, 53, 260-271.
  • Reynolds, S.C., 2007. Temporal variation in Plio- Pleistocene Antidorcas (Mammalia: Bovidae) horncores: the case from Bolt's Farm and why size matters. South African Journal of Science, 103, 47-50.
  • Reynolds, S.C., 2006. Temporal changes in vegetation and mammalian communities during Oxygen Isotope Stage 3 at Sibudu Cave. Southern African Humanities V, 18 (1), 301-314.
  • Reynolds, S.C., Vogel, J.C., Clarke, R.C. and Kuman, K.A., 2003. Preliminary results of excavations at Lincoln Cave, Sterkfontein, South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 99 (May/June), 286-288.
  • Thackeray, J.F. and Reynolds, S.C., 1997. Variability in Plio-Pleistocene climates, habitats, and ungulate biomass in southern Africa. South African Journal of Science, 93, 171-172.

Books

  • African Genesis: Perspectives on Hominin Evolution. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Chapters

  • Bennett, M.R. and Reynolds, S.C., 2021. Inferences from footprints: Archaeological best practice. Reading Prehistoric Human Tracks: Methods & Material. 15-39.
  • Reynolds, S., 2015. The role of landscapes in shaping hominin habitats in Africa. In: Sankhyan, A., ed. Recent Discoveries and Perspectives in Human Evolution Papers arising from ‘Exploring Human Origins: Exciting Discoveries at the Start of the 21st Century’ Manchester 2013. Oxford: Archaeopress, 68-76.
  • Reynolds, S.C., 2012. African Genesis: an evolving paradigm. In: Reynolds, S.C. and Gallagher, A., eds. African Genesis: Perspectives on Hominin Evolution ,. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1-18.
  • Reynolds, S.C. and Bishop, L.C., 2006. Craniodental variability in modern and fossil Plains zebra (Equus burchellii Gray 1824) from East and southern Africa. Equids in Time and Space: Papers in Honour of Véra Eisenmann. Oxford: Oxbow Books, 49-60.
  • Bishop, L.C. and Reynolds, S.C., 2000. Fauna from Twin Rivers. Middle Stone Age of Zambia. Bristol: Western Academic & Specialist Press, 217-222.

Conferences

  • Reynolds, S.C., 2015. The role of landscapes in shaping hominin habitats in Africa. In: 17th World Congress of the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES 2013): Evolving Humanity, Emerging Worlds 5-10 August 2013 Manchester, UK.
  • Reynolds, S.C. and King, G., 2007. Understanding hominin use of topographically complex landscapes at Sterkfontein (South Africa) during the last 3.5 million years. JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY, 268 (12), 1123.
  • Reynolds, S.C., Vogel, J.C., Clarke, R.J. and Kuman, K.A., 2003. Preliminary results of excavations at Lincoln Cave, Sterkfontein, South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 99 (5-6), 286-288.

Theses

  • Reynolds, S.C., 2005. Geographic variation in selected African mammalian taxa: a comparison of modern and fossil conspecifics. PhD Thesis. School of Biological and Earth Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University.

PhD Students

  • Emilia Hunt, 2023. Determining the different niches of Homo species in Europe, (In progress)
  • Chris Hopton, 2025. Using evolutionary patterns in aquatic and amphibious fauna to understand effects of climate change on human evolution, (In progress)
  • Mirte Korpershoek, 2025. Exploring rock art as a potential archive for palaeoenvironments and lifeways data:, (In progress)
  • Sheila Breeze, 2025. Role of upper limb function and asymmetry in assessing dexterity and manual task performance: implications for understanding the hominin hand and wrist with associated behaviours., (In progress)
  • Lucile Crete, 2020. Fossil Antelope teeth and remote sensing of contemporary African vegetation to reconstruct hominin habitats, (Completed)
  • Lauren Sewell, 2018. Using a multiproxy analysis of springbok fossils to track 2 million years of vegetation changes as experienced by hominins in southern Africa
  • Amara Reed (incoming September 2023). Roots of the Serengeti/Mara migration: Using strontium to track ancient animal movements and implications for hominins at Olduvai Gorge
  • Amy Potts. Using Agent Based Modelling (ABM) to understand the human dispersal into the Americas

Profile of Teaching PG

  • Masters Human Evolution
  • Research Project Masters Level

Profile of Teaching UG

  • Unit Leader for International Investigations (Level H)
  • Currently Unit Leader for Cultural Ecology (Level 6); Primate and Human Evolution (Level 7) and Research Projects (Level 7)

Grants

  • Using fossil antelope teeth and remote sensing of contemporary African vegetation community types to reconstruct hominin habitats around the Omo-Turkana basin between 3.5 – 1.6 Ma ago (Quaternary Research Association, 05 Mar 2019). Awarded
  • Using fossil antelope teeth and remote sensing of contemporary African vegetation community types to reconstruct hominin habitats around the Omo-Turkana basin between 3.5 – 1.6 Ma ago (Palaeontological Association, 21 Jan 2019). Completed
  • Using fossil antelope teeth and remote sensing of contemporary African vegetation community types to reconstruct hominin habitats around the Omo-Turkana basin between 3.5 – 1.6 Ma ago (Leakey Foundation, 31 Dec 2018). Awarded
  • Using fossil antelope teeth to reconstruct hominin habitats in the Omo-Turkana basin between 3.5-1.6Ma ago (NERC Isotope Geosciences Facilities, 10 Dec 2018). Awarded
  • Using fossil antelope teeth and remote sensing of contemporary African vegetation community types to reconstruct hominin habitats around the Omo-Turkana basin between 3.5 – 1.6 Ma ago (Quaternary Research Association, 02 Jul 2018). Completed
  • Using fossil antelope teeth and remote sensing of contemporary African vegetation community types to reconstruct hominin habitats around the Omo-Turkana basin between 3.5 – 1.6 Ma ago (Association for Environmental Archaeology, 30 Apr 2018). Completed
  • Using fossil antelope teeth and remote sensing of contemporary African vegetation community types to reconstruct hominin habitats around the Omo-Turkana basin between 3.5 – 1.6 Ma ago (Prehistoric Society, 31 Mar 2018). Completed
  • Reconstructing past environmental contexts in East and South Africa between 3.5 and 0.8 million years ago (British Institute in Eastern Africa, 04 Aug 2017). Completed
  • Quantifying the mosaic: testing modern analogues for African palaeoenvironments (Leverhulme Trust, 01 Aug 2012). Awarded

Journal Reviewing/Refereeing

  • Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, Open peer review, 04 Jan 2017
  • Journal of Human evolution, Anonymous peer review, 01 Jan 2016

Public Engagement & Outreach Activities

  • Public outreach exhibition - "Dinosaurs to Forensics" (04 Jul 2017-09 Jul 2017)
  • Human Evolution (10 Mar 2016)

Conference Presentations

  • American Geophysical Union (AGU), Hydrologic and Agent-based Modelling of hydro-refugia in East Africa, Insights into the importance of water resources in hominin evolution and dispersal, 11 Dec 2017, New Orleans

Qualifications

  • PhD in Vertebrate Palaeontology (Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, 2005)
  • MSc in Anatomical Sciences and Archaeology (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2002)
  • BA (Hons) in Archaeology (University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1998)
  • BA (Hons) in Archaeology (University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, 1996)

Memberships

  • Higher Education Academy, Associate (2013-),