Jo'Burg - Sterkfontein Caves

This part of Africa is very popular with  paleo-anthropologists due to the large amount of hominin fossils located in this area.  The caves were discovered when the Italians were dynamiting, looking for diamonds and they found this big limestone cave instead.  Diamonds were discovered but limestone had its own value.  The limestone was mined until they started finding lots of fossilized bones.  It has since been turned into World Heritage Site and its protected.  Its also an active dig site.  Two of the most famous finds were nicknamed "Mrs Ples" a nearly complete skeleton of an adult female (or possibly juvenile male - there is much debate), and "Little Foot" a nearly complete skeleton.  Both are listed as species Australopithecus.  This is still an active dig sight and over 500 hominins have been discovered here.



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