The Cradle of Humankind

The Cradle of Humankind is approximately a 20 minute drive from Magaliesberg in Africa and most likely has one of the most intriguing histories than anywhere else on the planet. It is well known for the discovery of the remains of the earliest species of primitive man known today that was found in and around the Sterkfontein Caves. This area has been declared a UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage site.

In 1947 Dr. Robert Broom extracted a well preserved fossil skull from the Sterkfontein Caves that was believed to be over 2.3 million years old. This skull was named “Mrs. Ples”. There is a rich history of human kind from this area. There is also a diverse selection of minerals from this region. “Magaliesberg is a mountain range extending west and north from Pretoria to just south of Pilanesberg, and extending for some 50km east of Pretoria where it peters out just south of Bronkhorstspruit.” Wikipedia. The Magaliesberg Range has a  long geological history, with its quartzites, shales, chert and dolomits that  were deposited as sediments in an inland basin on top of the 3 billion year old Archaean Basement Complex.