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CRADLE OF HUMANKIND
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| The Cradle of Humankind, Gauteng,
South Africa: The Cradle of Humankind Site comprises a strip of a dozen dolomitic
limestone caves containing the fossillised remains of ancient forms of animals, plants and
most importantly, hominids. The dolomite in which the caves formed, started out as coral
reefs growing in a worm shallow sea about 2.3 billion years ago .... [View » Cradle
of Humankind Map] |
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 Cradle Of Humankind
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The Site lies mainly in the Gauteng province
with a small extension into the neighboring North-West province, and covers 47 000
hectares of land mostly privately owned. The Cradle of Humankind Site comprises a strip of
a dozen dolomitic limestone caves containing the fossillised remains of ancient forms of
animals, plants and most importantly, hominids. The dolomite in which the caves formed,
started out as coral reefs growing in a worm shallow sea about 2.3 billion years ago.
As the reefs died off they were transformed into limestone which some time later was
converted into dolomite. Millions of years later after the sea had receded, slightly
acidic groundwater began to dissolve out calcium carbonate from the dolomite to form
underground caverns. Over time the water table dropped and the underground caverns were
exposed to the air. The percolation of acidic water through the dolomite also dissolved
calcium carbonates out of the rock into the caverns, which formed stalactites, stalagmites
and other crystalline structures. Continued erosion on the earth's surface and dissolution
of the dolomite eventually resulted in shafts or avens forming between the surface of the
earth and the caverns below. Bones, stones and plants washed down these shafts into the
caves; and animals and hominids fell into the caves, became trapped and died.The bone and
plant remains became fossilized and along with various stones and pebbles became cemented
in a hard mixture called breccia.
At least seven of the twelve sites have yielded hominid remains. In fact, together these
cave sites have produced over 850 hominid fossil remains, so that to date they represent
one of the world's richest concentrations of fossil hominid bearing sites.The scientific
value of this area lies in the fact that these sites provide us with a window into the
past, to a time when our earliest ancestors were evolving and changing. Scientists have
long accepted that all humans had their origins in Africa.
Through the use of biochemical evidence they have argued that the split of the human
lineage (Hominidae) from that of the African apes took place around 5-6 million years ago.
The study of hominid fossils from sites in Africa thus enables scientists to understand
how these hominids have changed and diversified since then. |
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Sterkfontein Caves |
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The Sterkfontein Caves are located within the
Isaac Edwin Stegmann Reserve about 10km from Krugersdorp. These caves were donated to the
University of Witwatersrand by the Stegmann family. A section of the caves is open to the
public, and there is a gravel platform from which the public can view the excavation site.
Other facilities include a tea-room and small museum in which information about
significant findings are on display.
Right from the start the caves proved rich in hominids. In 1936 the Sterkfontein caves
produced the first adult australopithecine. In 1947 the almost complete skull of an adult
female Australopithecus africanus was found. Initially named Plesianthropus
transvaalensis ("near-man" of the Transvaal), which inspired the nickname
'Mrs.Ples'.
'Mrs Ples' is estimated to be between 2.8 and 2.6 million years old and ranks high on the
long list of australopithecine discoveries for which Sterkfontein is now famous. The
world's longest sustained excavation ever carried out at an ancient hominid site was
started in 1966 and continues today. A further 500 hominid specimens have been recovered,
making Sterkfonteln the world's richest hominid site. The site is also renowned for
studies carried out on fossilised fauna, wood and stone tools which were made, used and
discarded by hominids In the past.
The fossil remains from Broom's excavations are housed In the Transvaal Museum
(Northern Flagship Institution), Pretoria, while the remains from 1966 onwards are housed
at the University of Wltwatersrand, Johannesburg. |
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Swartkrans |
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Swartkrans is located about 1.5km north-west
of the Sterkfontein Caves and is owned by the University of the Witwatersrand. Drs Broom
and Robinson carried out the first scientific excavations at Swartkrans towards the end of
1948. To date, more than 200 hominid specimens, mostly attributable to Paranthropus
(Australopithecus) robustus, numerous animal remains and stone and'bone tools have been
recovered from this site. Apart from these robust hominids, however, Swartkrans was
also the first site In Africa to yield remains of Homo ergaster. Homo sapiens, in Africa,
is thought to be responsible for the stone tools and possibly for the use of controlled
fire at Swartkrans. Deposits at Swartkrans date between 1.8 and 1 million years ago.
Hominid and faunal specimens from Swartkrans are housed at the Transvaal Museum (Northern
Flagship Institution). |
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Minnaars |
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| This site Is located about 1 .1 km to
the north-west of the Kromdraai store on a steep hillside overlooking the
BloubankspruIt. No recent excavations, have been carried out, however there It is a
possibility that hominid remains may be found If excavations are resumed. |
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Plover's Lake |
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| Plover's Lake Is located north-east of the
Sterkfonteln Caves, about 2.5km from the Kromdraai -Broederstroom road. Excavations have
been carried out by Dr Francis Thackeray of the Transvaal Museum (Northern Flagship
Institution) In association with scientists from Washington University. The ancient cave
roof has disintegrated as a result of erosion leaving" exposed calcified sediments
rich with fossils. The site has yielded abundant faunal remains Including antelope,
extinct zebra and a leopard lair. |
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Wonder Cave |
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| The Wonder Cave Is located about 2.5 km from
the Kromdraai. The enormous cave chamber with a volume of 46 OOOm Is believed to be 2.2
million years old. This cave has the best example in the region of a relatively young
taluscone (a few thousand years old) which helps us understand how the older caves in the
area were filled in. Wonder Cave contains drip stone formations as beautiful as those in
the Cango Caves. It also has a resident bat population. Hourly tours are conducted by on
well-lit pathways where no crawling is necessary. |
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Drimolen |
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| The site is located 1.6 km to the west of the
Wonder Cave. It is one of the most recent fossil hominid sites to be discovered, and is
already the 3rd richest fossil hominid site. 75 specimens of Paranthropus
(Australopithecus) robustus and 5 specimens of Homo sapiens have been unearthed together
with a substantial faunal sample. |
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Kromdraai |
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| The site, Kromdraai, is situated about 1 .5
km north of the Sterkfontein caves. Kromdraai is known for the first discovery of
Paranthropus robustus, a more robust line of hominid that existed between 2-1 million
years ago in South Africa. Current excavations are being carried out in the open by the
Transvaal Museum (Northern Flagship Institution). the University of the Witwatersrand and
Harvard University. |
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Bolt's Farm |
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| Bolt's Farm consists of a series of lime
quarries some 2.5-km south-west of Sterkfontein Caves. Fauna discovered from this site
Include fossil elephant, pig, antelope, saber-toothed cat and rodents. The fossils
indicate a range , of different dates. Certain fossil rodents, for example, dating to
about 4.5 million years, make these the oldest deposits in the Cradle of Humankind World
Heritage Site. Other species have been dated to between 3.4 -2.9 million years
old. |
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Coopers B |
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| Coopers B is situated about 1.25 km from
Sterkfonteln Caves. It became the third South African cave deposit to yield a hominid
fossil when a molar tooth was found. Apart from a significant sample of faunal remains the
site has yielded part of the face of a Paranthropus (Austra/opithecus) robustus and some
isolated teeth. |
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Gladysvale |
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| Gladysvale is located 14km north-east of
Sterkfontein in the John Nash Nature Reserve and includes three underground caves and a
considerable volume of breccia. Gladysvale preserves one of the most extensive time
sequences of any cave in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. with sediments
dating from over 3.0 million years to around 250 years ago. Apart from a few hominid
specimens, including two ape-man teeth, the site has yielded the skeleton of a wolf, the
skull of a giant hyena and some plant remains. |
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Haasgat |
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| Hassgat is situated about 5 km from the
Hartbeeshoek-Broederstroom road. Early lime mining removed a basal ftowstone from the
cave, causing part of the roof to collapse. The collapsed blocks of breccia have yielded a
significant faunal sample, although the bone concentration is not particularly high. No
hominids have been found thus far. Discoveries in this site include early forest-dwelling
monkeys, which indicates that the deposits may be around 1.3 million years old. |
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Gondolin |
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| Gondolin is located 3.2 km south-west of
Broederstroom village. Unlike all the above- mentioned sites, which are located in the
Gauteng Province, Gondolin falls within the North West Province. Identified fossils from
this site suggest an age of about 1.2- 1.3 million years ago. |
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Contact Details |
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| At present only the Sterkfontein Caves and the Wonder Cave
are open to the public: |
| Sterkfontein Caves |
+27 (0)11 956 - 6342 |
| Wonder Cave |
+27 (0)11 957 - 0106 |
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| For more information about the sites and various research
projects: |
| Archaeological Resource Development Project (WITS) |
+27 (0)11 717 - 6053 |
| SterkfonteinResearchUnit (WITS) |
+27 (0)11 717 - 2516 |
| Palaeo-anthropological Unit for Research and Exploration |
+27 (0)11 339 - 7202 |
| Transvaal Museum (Northern Flagship Institute) |
+27 (0)12 322 - 7632 |
| Palaeo-Anthropological Scientific Trust |
+27 (0)11 717 - 2112 |
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