Petrified skeleton of a 3,5 million year old hominid found 20 years ago
One of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century was documented in the South African Journal of Science on this date. Dr Ron Clark of the palaeo-anthropological research institute of the University of the Witwatersrand discovered the petrified skeleton of a 3,5 million year old hominid (ape-man) in the Sterkfontein Caves near Krugersdorp on 8 December 2013. The near-complete skeleton, belonging to the Australopithecus species, is 1.22 metre tall. Australopithecus preceded the genus Homo, to which we belong. Scientists believed the find to be the most significant since the discovery in 1924 of a skull belonging to the so-called Taung child, also in the Sterkfontein caves. Sterkfontein was declared a World Heritage Site in 2000. The area in which it is situated, was named the Cradle of Humankind. (SA History Online)
"Petrified skeleton of a 3,5 million year old hominid found 20 years ago"
1.75 million year old Australopithecus jawbone was uncovered in 1959, replica in the museum at Olduvai Gorge, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
Australopithecus Sediba on show at the South African Museum, Cape Town 24.04.2010. Australopithecus Sediba , a 2 million year old partially complete skeleton was found in a cave in Malapa, South Africa.( about 40km from Johannesburg). Two skeletons believed to be an adult female and young boy were found alongside other animals in the cave. They probably fell into the cave and died about 2 million years ago. They are the most human-like australopethicine yet discovered, providing valuable clues to the evolutionary changes that led to the genus Homo and may be the 'transitional species'or missing link. They were taken to Cape Town for a short period for the public to view at the South African museum in 2010, but are housed in
Sterkfontein Caves are a significant archaelogical site owned by Wits University where there have been significant hominid findings.. A plaque at the entrance of the cave says:\"Sterkfontein National Heritage SiteIn 1936, the first adult cranum of Australopithecus Africanus was found here. Since then excavations have produced around 500 Australopithecus and many thousands of animal fossils, dating between 3 and 2 million years ago, as well as fossil wood and liana, which indicate a more wooded environment. Younger deposits have produced thousands of Oldowan and Achuelean stone tools dating from around 2 to 1.5 million years ago with fossils of Paranthropus and early Homo (our own genus). An older deposit has produced the first almost complete 4 million year old Australopithecus skeleton.\". Sound Captions:20070530caves.amr20070530caves2.amr
The Sterkfontein Caves at Cradle of Humankind is a World Heritage Site. 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.
GW1865, South Africa, Cradle of Mankind 2004: Visitors to the Sterkfontein Caves Museum. The poster shows the Australopithecus (early man) fossils, archaelogy, education, tourismGraeme Williams/South
replica of the skull of Mrs Ples, a hominid fossil found in Sterkfontein Caves and now on display at Maropeng Visitors Centre at Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site
Dr. Ron Clarke, palaeontologist, part of the Wits Palaeoanthropology research group.
Sterkfontein Caves are a significant archaelogical site owned by Wits University where there have been significant hominid findings.. A plaque at the entrance of the cave says:\"Sterkfontein National Heritage SiteIn 1936, the first adult cranum of Australopithecus Africanus was found here. Since then excavations have produced around 500 Australopithecus and many thousands of animal fossils, dating between 3 and 2 million years ago, as well as fossil wood and liana, which indicate a more wooded environment. Younger deposits have produced thousands of Oldowan and Achuelean stone tools dating from around 2 to 1.5 million years ago with fossils of Paranthropus and early Homo (our own genus). An older deposit has produced the first almost complete 4 million year old Australopithecus skeleton.\". Sound Captions:20070530caves.amr20070530caves2.amr
Sterkfontein Caves are a significant archaelogical site owned by Wits University where there have been significant hominid findings.. A plaque at the entrance of the cave says:\"Sterkfontein National Heritage SiteIn 1936, the first adult cranum of Australopithecus Africanus was found here. Since then excavations have produced around 500 Australopithecus and many thousands of animal fossils, dating between 3 and 2 million years ago, as well as fossil wood and liana, which indicate a more wooded environment. Younger deposits have produced thousands of Oldowan and Achuelean stone tools dating from around 2 to 1.5 million years ago with fossils of Paranthropus and early Homo (our own genus). An older deposit has produced the first almost complete 4 million year old Australopithecus skeleton.\". Sound Captions:20070530caves.amr20070530caves2.amr
A statue of Dr Robert Broom holding \"Mrs Ples.\" Sterkfontein Caves are a significant archaelogical site owned by Wits University where there have been significant hominid findings.. A plaque at the entrance of the cave says:\"Sterkfontein National Heritage SiteIn 1936, the first adult cranum of Australopithecus Africanus was found here. Since then excavations have produced around 500 Australopithecus and many thousands of animal fossils, dating between 3 and 2 million years ago, as well as fossil wood and liana, which indicate a more wooded environment. Younger deposits have produced thousands of Oldowan and Achuelean stone tools dating from around 2 to 1.5 million years ago with fossils of Paranthropus and early Homo (our own genus). An older deposit has produced the first almost complete 4 million year old Australopithecus skeleton.\". Sound Captions:20070530caves.amr20070530caves2.amr
Sterkfontein Caves are a significant archaelogical site owned by Wits University where there have been significant hominid findings.. A plaque at the entrance of the cave says:\"Sterkfontein National Heritage SiteIn 1936, the first adult cranum of Australopithecus Africanus was found here. Since then excavations have produced around 500 Australopithecus and many thousands of animal fossils, dating between 3 and 2 million years ago, as well as fossil wood and liana, which indicate a more wooded environment. Younger deposits have produced thousands of Oldowan and Achuelean stone tools dating from around 2 to 1.5 million years ago with fossils of Paranthropus and early Homo (our own genus). An older deposit has produced the first almost complete 4 million year old Australopithecus skeleton.\". Sound Captions:20070530caves.amr20070530caves2.amr
Bust of Prof Phillip Tobias who lead the team that excavated the Sterkfontein caves from 1955 to 2005. Sterkfontein Caves are a significant archaelogical site owned by Wits University where there have been significant hominid findings.. A plaque at the entrance of the cave says:\"Sterkfontein National Heritage SiteIn 1936, the first adult cranum of Australopithecus Africanus was found here. Since then excavations have produced around 500 Australopithecus and many thousands of animal fossils, dating between 3 and 2 million years ago, as well as fossil wood and liana, which indicate a more wooded environment. Younger deposits have produced thousands of Oldowan and Achuelean stone tools dating from around 2 to 1.5 million years ago with fossils of Paranthropus and early Homo (our own genus). An older deposit has produced the first almost complete 4 million year old Australopithecus skeleton.\". Sound Captions:20070530caves.amr20070530caves2.amr
A statue of Dr Robert Broom holding \"Mrs Ples.\" Sterkfontein Caves are a significant archaelogical site owned by Wits University where there have been significant hominid findings.. A plaque at the entrance of the cave says:\"Sterkfontein National Heritage SiteIn 1936, the first adult cranum of Australopithecus Africanus was found here. Since then excavations have produced around 500 Australopithecus and many thousands of animal fossils, dating between 3 and 2 million years ago, as well as fossil wood and liana, which indicate a more wooded environment. Younger deposits have produced thousands of Oldowan and Achuelean stone tools dating from around 2 to 1.5 million years ago with fossils of Paranthropus and early Homo (our own genus). An older deposit has produced the first almost complete 4 million year old Australopithecus skeleton.\". Sound Captions:20070530caves.amr20070530caves2.amr
Australopithecus Sediba on show at the South African Museum, Cape Town 24.04.2010. Australopithecus Sediba , a 2 million year old partially complete skeleton was found in a cave in Malapa, South Africa.( about 40km from Johannesburg). Two skeletons believed to be an adult female and young boy were found alongside other animals in the cave. They probably fell into the cave and died about 2 million years ago. They are the most human-like australopethicine yet discovered, providing valuable clues to the evolutionary changes that led to the genus Homo and may be the 'transitional species'or missing link. They were taken to Cape Town for a short period for the public to view at the South African museum in 2010, but are housed in Johannesburg.
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