Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa
Overview
The Taung Skull Fossil Site, part of the extension to the site inscribed in 1999, is the place where in 1924 the celebrated Taung Skull – a specimen of the species Australopithecus africanus – was found. Makapan Valley, also in the site, features in its many archaeological caves traces of human occupation and evolution dating back some 3.3 million years. The area contains essential elements that define the origin and evolution of humanity. Fossils found there have enabled the identification of several specimens of early hominids, more particularly of Paranthropus, dating back between 4.5 million and 2.5 million years, as well as evidence of the domestication of fire 1.8 million to 1 million years ago.
About Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa
The Cradle of Humankind is a paleoanthropological site that is located about 50 km (31 mi) northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa, in the Gauteng province. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999, the site is home to the largest known concentration of human ancestral remains anywhere in the world. The site currently occupies 47,000 hectares and contains a complex system of limestone caves. The registered name of the site in the list of World Heritage Sites is Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa.
Read more on WikipediaSelection Criteria
(iii)
Components(3 locations)
- •Makapan Valley915bis-002
- •Taung Skull Fossil Site915bis-003
- •Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, and Environs915bis-001
Details
- Countries
- South Africa
- ISO Codes
- ZA
- Coordinates
- -24.1586, 29.1769
Stay Nearby
Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa
Attractions & Tickets
Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa
Getting Here
Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa