Sterkfontein

Site near Krugersdorp in Transvaal, South Africa, which is one of the most important hominid sites in southern Africa and dating from c 2.5 million years ago. From the fossiliferous cave fillings have come the largest collection of Australopithecine fossils in south Africa, especially Australopithecus africanus and also Plesianthropus transvaalensis, Australopithecus robustus, Homo erectus, and Homo habilis. The latter is thought to have made Earlier Stone Age artifacts (Developed Oldowan B or early Acheulian). Sterkfontein is one of three neighboring sites (with Swartkrans and Kromdraai) at which the remains of fossil hominids have been found.

A site on the Witwatersrand near Johannesburg, South Africa, which is one of the most important hominid sites in southern Africa. The main hominid fossilbearing level of these collapsed limestone cave (Member 4) has produced numerous remains of the gracile species Australopithecus africanus, dating from perhaps 2.5 million years ago or more. A later level, Member 5, of perhaps 1.5-2 million years ago, contained a skull oV kahilis’ type and stone tools. Since the Taung skull is juvenile, Sterkfontein is often regarded as the type population of A. africanus, but even this large series may be unrepresentative as most of the remains seem to be female. See also Australopithecus,