Swartkrans

One of three neighboring South African sites where important fossil hominid remains have been found - a short distance from Sterkfontein and Kromdraai. The valley is the richest hominid site in South Africa and Swarkrans dates between 1.8-1 million years ago, with remains of possibly over 60 individuals of Australopithecus robustus. The Swartkrans artifacts are mainly relatively crude stone chopper cores, flakes, and scrapers made of quartzite and quartz, and some bone tools. The stone tools, including rough hand axes, are attributed to the Developed Oldowan. A second hominid is present, probably Homo erectus or habilis. Fire-blackened bones of 1.5-1 million years ago may be the oldest known direct evidence for the use of fire.

Short distance from Sterk-fontein and in the same valley is the richest hominid site in South Africa. It contains remains of perhaps over 60 individuals of A. robustus, the best sample of the robust kind of Australopithecus. These deposits are later than the main Sterkfontein hominid level, perhaps 1.5 to 2 million years old. Swartkrans has stone tools including rough hand axes; a second hominid is present, probably Homo erectus or ‘habilis’, who is more likely to have been the toolmaker.