Almost extinct Khoisanid type, once common along the South African coasts from Cape Colony to the Skeleton Coast. The name derives from the "beach-combers" who lived mainly on shellfish. Probably a Proto-Khoisanid type, very ancient and less specialised. Has vanished as a result of European colonisation, however some individuals of Topnaar (ǂ Aonin) may still show this type.
Yellowish brown skin, wrinkled in old age, kinky, sometimes peppercorn hair. Short, ectomorph, sometimes endomorph, women may show steatopygia. Mesocephalic, sometimes brachycephalic, with a large and chamaecranic skull. Mesorrhine nose with a depressed root and dilated wings. The face is broad and low, orbits are large, prognathy common, eyes show pseudo-Mongoloid features.
The type was identified and named by Shrubsall (1898, 1911). Biasutti (1967) adopted as a Khoisanid subrace he called "Costiera". Detailed investigations were also made by Johnston (1910), Dart (1955) and Sydow (1973). Sometimes placed between Khoe and San (Cole, 1965).
