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Sterkfontein

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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
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Sterkfontein Caves 15

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.

Specimens

Age MinAge Max
Sts 5
StW 573Skeleton

Sources