Sterkfontein Caves

Useful Information

Location:	9,5 km north-west of Krugersdorp in Gauteng. 45 minute drive from Johannesburg International Airport. (26°03' South and 27°42' East)
Open:	FEB to DEC Tue-Sun 9-16, tours on the half hour. [2005]
Fee:	Adults R 10, Children R 5.
Classification:	dolomite limestone.
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:	upper level: 1,480 m asl. lower level: 1,450 m asl.
Guided tours:	D=60 min.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Isaac E. Stegman Reserve, Krugersdorp 1739, PO Box 481, Krugersdorp 1740, Tel: +27-11-956-6342. E-mail: Scientific enquiries: Dr R J Clarke +27-11-647-2411 or Dr LR Berger +27-11-647-2112.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1896	an Italian contractor, Guiglelmo Martinaglia blasted here in search of lime.
09-AUG-1936	Dr. Robert Broom visited Sterkfontein the first time.
17-AUG-1936	Dr. Robert Broom found the first adult skull of the Australopithecus africanus.
1947	the cranium of an Australopithecus africanus, known as Mrs. Ples, was discovered by Dr. Robert Broom and Dr. John Robinson.
1956	in a younger part of the cave deposits, Dr. C.K. Brain discovered the first stone tools.
1968	start of continuous excavations by the Palaeo-Anthropological Research Unit of the Unitversity of the Witwatersrand.
1998	world's first complete hominid fossil skull with skeleton found at Sterkfontein.
1999	inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Description

The Sterkfontein Caves are a very important prehistoric site. Dr. Robert Broom discovered the skull of an hominid at this site, the famous Mrs Ples. Despite this name, this skull was from a male hominid, and proved, that this ancestors of mankind lived in South Africa more than 2.5 million years ago. This hominid is called Australopithecus africanus or Plesianthropus transvaalenis, which is the origin of the abbreviation Ples. Since this first finds, this cave proved to be one of the richest sites of early hominid fossils in Africa.

The cave has two levels. The upper one was open to the surface for millions of years and contains the prehistoric remains. The lower lever has an underground lake and many beautiful formations. This is the part of the cave, which is open to the public.