Swartkrans
Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa | |
---|---|
Criteria | Cultural: (iii)(vi) |
Reference | 915bis-001 |
Inscription | 1999 (23rd Session) |
Extensions | 2005 |
Coordinates | 25°55′45″S 27°47′20″E / 25.92917°S 27.78889°E |
Swartkrans is a fossil-bearing cave designated as a
Noted paleontologist
History of investigations
Swartkrans is located on the Blaauwbank River in the Cradle of Humankind, which has a long record of some of the oldest hominin remain discoveries in the world. It is located 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from Sterkfontein, a site that has yielded similar discoveries of the same era.[2] The private farmland the cave was originally on was purchased by the University of the Witwatersrand in 1968.[4]: 221
The cave was discovered in 1948, and initial excavations were carried out by paleontologist Robert Broom. His team uncovered several remains of Paranthropus robustus and early Homo species. It was the first site at which both Paranthropus and Homo had been found together, indicating that they were contemporary.[3]
Excavation then halted until the mid-1960s and continued until the 1980s, when
Discoveries
Some of the earliest evidence of controlled use of fire by humans can be found at Swartkrans, up to 1.5 million years ago.[6][7]
In addition, some of the earliest evidence of modified bone tools has also been found at Swartkrans and Sterkfontein, with the oldest at Swartkrans dating to about 1.8 million years ago. These tools may have been made by
These early tools were first speculated to have been used to dig up
In 2016, the discovery of the earliest known evidence of cancer in hominins was announced. An osteosarcoma was found on a partial left fifth metatarsal from an unclassified hominin.[3]
Geology
Swartkrans is a
References
- ^ "9/2/233/0012 - Swartkrans Palaeontological Site, Zwartkrans 172, Krugersdorp District". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Archived from the original on 16 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
- ^ a b c Lesnik, J.; Thackeray, J. F. (1 September 2007). "The efficiency of stone and bone tools for opening termite mounds: implications for hominid tool use at Swartkrans". South African Journal of Science. 103 (9/10): 354–356.
- ^ .
- ^ ISBN 9780226070902.
- ^ Piegl, Linda; Bothma, Bianca (20 December 2011). "Dinofelis – Hominid Hunter or Misunderstood Feline?". Maropeng. Maropeng – Official Visitor Centre. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
- S2CID 4318364.
- ^ Rincon, Paul (22 March 2004). "Bones hint at first use of fire". BBC. Retrieved 14 June 2011.
- ^ PMID 11171955.
External links
- Media related to Swartkrans at Wikimedia Commons
- University of Chicago Press page for The Hunters or the Hunted?