- South Africa 2000. Human skull found at Sterkfontein.
Fossil Hominid Sites of
Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, and Environs (1999, 2005)
South Africa
The Taung Skull Fossil Site, part of the extension, is the place where in 1924 the celebrated Taung Skull - a specimen of the species Australopithecus africanus - was found. Makapan Valley, also in the site, features in its many archaeological caves traces of human occupation and evolution dating back some 3.3 million years.
The area contains essential elements that define the origin
and evolution of humankind. Fossils found there have enabled the identification
of several specimens of early hominids, more particularly specimens of
Paranthropus, dating back between 4.5 million and 2.5 million years as well as
evidence of the domestication of fire 1.8 million to 1 million years ago. It is
an extension to the site inscribed in 1999.
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Sources and links:
Other World Heritage Sites in South Africa (on this site). Inactive links are not described on postage stamps. Please refer to the UNESCO-listing, South Africa section, for further information on the individual properties.
Revised 20 jul 2006 |
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