Sites
Sterkfontein
Wikipedia data hasn't been reviewed for accuracy by the Gignos Research Team
- Site type:
- Unknown
- Site function:
- Na
- Lat/Long:
- -26.01, 27.73
- Country:
- South Africa
- Date range max:
- 2,800,000 Bp
- Date range min:
- 820,000 Bp
- Classifications:
- Australopithecus, Australopithecus africanus, Homo habilis, Homo sapiens
![Sterkfontein Caves 15](https://gignos-api-uploads.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/pezvjrzoyu9joarvyvy1zglcx0b3?response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D%22Sterkfontein_Caves_15.jpg%22%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27Sterkfontein_Caves_15.jpg&response-content-type=image%2Fjpeg&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA3JE4TXYOZ2XVUKNK%2F20240727%2Fus-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240727T063205Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=a5f2cca53053baba6fc56a615f9fbb27ce132edb36110261d357f3e46eafbdff)
Sterkfontein Caves 15
Sterkfontein (Afrikaans for Strong Spring) is a set of limestone caves of special interest to paleo-anthropologists located in Gauteng province, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa in the Muldersdrift area close to the town of Krugersdorp. The archaeological sites of Swartkrans and Kromdraai are in the same area. Sterkfontein is a South African National Heritage Site and was also declared a World Heritage Site in 2000. The area in which it is situated is known as the Cradle of Humankind. The Sterkfontein Caves are also home to numerous wild African species including Belonogaster petiolata, a wasp species of which there is a large nesting presence.
Numerous early hominin remains have been found at the site over the last few decades. These have been attributed to Australopithecus, early Homo and Paranthropus.
3D Models, Videos and Images
Australopithecus africanus: cranium (STS 5, Sterkfontein)
Australopithecus africanus: cranium (STS 71, Sterkfontein)
Exploring Sterkfontein Caves, and Australopithecus africanus in the laboratory
Introduction to Sterkfontein
![SterkfonteinCave](https://gignos-api-uploads.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/xu73muoz8nixyj9i37szeqg7jl7d?response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D%22512px-SterkfonteinCave.jpg%22%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27512px-SterkfonteinCave.jpg&response-content-type=image%2Fjpeg&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA3JE4TXYOZ2XVUKNK%2F20240727%2Fus-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240727T063205Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=de60f5d4ee75d378c4b8a72afed3105c5cf602cefe42b7741982d2256b3b7427)
SterkfonteinCave
![Sterkfontein Caves 34](https://gignos-api-uploads.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/vq66uw3btpt476hkl53lbeejzgyi?response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D%22Sterkfontein_Caves_34.jpg%22%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27Sterkfontein_Caves_34.jpg&response-content-type=image%2Fjpeg&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA3JE4TXYOZ2XVUKNK%2F20240727%2Fus-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240727T063205Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=14f148dba0113ec160481a877b123a4ef80a5bed1896af0e3406018a3ff3893f)
Sterkfontein Caves 34
![Sterkfontein Caves 42](https://gignos-api-uploads.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/78zkgcdywuni661swr93r6cp7mvo?response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D%22Sterkfontein_Caves_42.jpg%22%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27Sterkfontein_Caves_42.jpg&response-content-type=image%2Fjpeg&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA3JE4TXYOZ2XVUKNK%2F20240727%2Fus-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240727T063205Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=d80603d2be6f80057da389cf9f08c5325954b4a16c4e6887147e3d31d9e05ec8)
Sterkfontein Caves 42
![Sterkfontein Caves 59](https://gignos-api-uploads.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/tbo4bjgff8ifaqrwrg35fc4gf41l?response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D%22Sterkfontein_Caves_59.jpg%22%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27Sterkfontein_Caves_59.jpg&response-content-type=image%2Fjpeg&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA3JE4TXYOZ2XVUKNK%2F20240727%2Fus-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240727T063205Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=07598f76697a4991ae0c5ec9ae493a65852acc432b601148c44f2aa37012b667)
Sterkfontein Caves 59
![Sterkfontein Caves 15](https://gignos-api-uploads.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/pezvjrzoyu9joarvyvy1zglcx0b3?response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D%22Sterkfontein_Caves_15.jpg%22%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27Sterkfontein_Caves_15.jpg&response-content-type=image%2Fjpeg&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA3JE4TXYOZ2XVUKNK%2F20240727%2Fus-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240727T063205Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=a5f2cca53053baba6fc56a615f9fbb27ce132edb36110261d357f3e46eafbdff)
Sterkfontein Caves 15
![Sterkfontein](https://gignos-api-uploads.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/pfi1zmp6ioouwroyylzmbi22h66x?response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D%222048px-Sterkfontein.jpg%22%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%272048px-Sterkfontein.jpg&response-content-type=image%2Fjpeg&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA3JE4TXYOZ2XVUKNK%2F20240727%2Fus-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240727T063205Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=f2d34cc9d22d358f6725af609a4dfbddfd79de6eca22914228fc9c89849f8e8d)
Sterkfontein
![Sterkfontein Caves 33](https://gignos-api-uploads.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/sx0cyapezxa3tpii1ni85936bd2f?response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D%22Sterkfontein_Caves_33.jpg%22%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27Sterkfontein_Caves_33.jpg&response-content-type=image%2Fjpeg&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA3JE4TXYOZ2XVUKNK%2F20240727%2Fus-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240727T063205Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=ab3ade8a3e579ece739ba9bec053fa50bafccaa79f315eac906d4be39814b162)
Sterkfontein Caves 33
![Sterkfontein Caves 8](https://gignos-api-uploads.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/j6tj9e47oqxxi4q6hwyrveuhifkz?response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D%22Sterkfontein_Caves_8.jpg%22%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27Sterkfontein_Caves_8.jpg&response-content-type=image%2Fjpeg&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA3JE4TXYOZ2XVUKNK%2F20240727%2Fus-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240727T063205Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=37d2321eeb6f574ce19fcd1022b51ad9338ec79876607188898ab48e6aee0fe3)
Sterkfontein Caves 8
![Australopithecus africanus (Plesianthropus transvaalensis holotype) - STS 60 Sterkfontein](https://gignos-api-uploads.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/3yuq7lqztd14s2sh8ntv4f6sicfn?response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D%22Australopithecus%20africanus%20%2528Plesianthropus%20transvaalensis%20holotype%2529%20-%20Sterkfontein.jpg%22%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27Australopithecus%2520africanus%2520%2528Plesianthropus%2520transvaalensis%2520holotype%2529%2520-%2520Sterkfontein.jpg&response-content-type=image%2Fjpeg&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA3JE4TXYOZ2XVUKNK%2F20240727%2Fus-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240727T063205Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=4317c7d872a6feeedec6c08821cee99b885db00adcfba25b0bc72a44f5d92f0f)
Australopithecus africanus (Plesianthropus transvaalensis holotype) - STS 60 Sterkfontein
![Sterkfontein Caves 9 - Sts 5](https://gignos-api-uploads.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/udjjjlp3cdwvhx0in967dnz3q2yx?response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D%22Sterkfontein%20Caves%209%20-%20Sts%205.jpg%22%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27Sterkfontein%2520Caves%25209%2520-%2520Sts%25205.jpg&response-content-type=image%2Fjpeg&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA3JE4TXYOZ2XVUKNK%2F20240727%2Fus-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240727T063205Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=b2033c6ae8248c8401dcda639d30274af2d9881c46ff52bd1fd9cbaebbdc202d)
Sterkfontein Caves 9 - Sts 5
![Mrs Ples Face](https://gignos-api-uploads.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/m7xxi1srdx38pxgc2l0jqqv7nu9w?response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D%22Mrs_Ples_Face.jpg%22%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27Mrs_Ples_Face.jpg&response-content-type=image%2Fjpeg&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA3JE4TXYOZ2XVUKNK%2F20240727%2Fus-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240727T063205Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=2fa1e3b09cfb75b4783b11b14be3b0ac8176c4b8becde160d79fd4944733bff4)
Mrs Ples Face
![Mrs Ples](https://gignos-api-uploads.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/tsfokmrfjmrs9b9xqxzuqn6x509u?response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D%22Mrs_Ples.jpg%22%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27Mrs_Ples.jpg&response-content-type=image%2Fjpeg&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA3JE4TXYOZ2XVUKNK%2F20240727%2Fus-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240727T063205Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=a67155442bb5e8c1c6f9ab25e53b7ab53caf2744738176b68c279a4e2d18bb60)
Mrs Ples
![Mrs. Ples](https://gignos-api-uploads.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/mrl33jxkpj550vw9vsmfcxpk4dsj?response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D%22Mrs._Ples.jpg%22%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27Mrs._Ples.jpg&response-content-type=image%2Fjpeg&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA3JE4TXYOZ2XVUKNK%2F20240727%2Fus-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240727T063205Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=b61f9ed2e4e4d73451c3c542aae69c7acabbc0860bfcfa571d6e2084f61af23f)
Mrs. Ples
![Sterkfontein Caves 6 - StW 573](https://gignos-api-uploads.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/1naz6h8za13ux861csw6g356o7x8?response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D%22Sterkfontein%20Caves%206%20-%20StW%20573.jpg%22%3B%20filename%2A%3DUTF-8%27%27Sterkfontein%2520Caves%25206%2520-%2520StW%2520573.jpg&response-content-type=image%2Fjpeg&X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA3JE4TXYOZ2XVUKNK%2F20240727%2Fus-west-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20240727T063205Z&X-Amz-Expires=300&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&X-Amz-Signature=0e84938acc55048c96b82eea4bf76f47aec3c93aa2b61761694a5ba57312934c)