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Three geographically dispersed Middle and Later Stone Age cave sites in South Africa, and a Middle Stone Age cave site in Ethiopia, share a similar taphonomic signature that includes destruction of bones associated with variable forms of star shaped features, clusters of microscopically visible sub-parallel striations, edge gnawing, pits, and etching of the bone surface. Similar traces preserved on Plio-Pleistocene fauna are interpreted by different authors as the possible work of termites or ants. Considering that ambiguity exists in the interpretation of these traces and that there are no modern examples available for comparison, we set out to create a reference collection of bones modified by southern African termites. Here we present the results of an actualistic experiment conducted with the harvester termite: Trinervitermes trinervoides (Sjöstedt) (Isoptera: Termitidae) in the Sterkfontein Valley, South Africa. Results …