Cradle of humankind surface workings
I showed you the underground features at Sterkfontein about three weeks ago, so here is the promised follow on.
https://steemit.com/spelunking/@gavvet/spelunking-the-sport-of-troglodytes
Sterkfontein was originally mined for calcium deposits used in explosives and paint in the early gold mines. Those mining activities undoubtedly destroyed many fossils but made the first ones visible to scientists…
Robert Broom was the one who identified and began excavating and preserving these at Sterkfontein…
A bronze bust with a replica of one of his finds is placed at the exit of the cave to honor his contributions to science by identifying and preserving the site.
Many of the great finds including Mrs. Ples come from these surface deposits which are actually the floors of older eroded caves.
The walkways are erected to allow easy access for students and scientists.
Fossils are from animals and hominids that fell to their deaths down vertical slots like these at the surface or were dragged into the now eroded caves by predators.
While building the visitors center stone tools were discovered
This resulted in more excavations around the visitors’ center for display purposes and teaching archeology students.
Below is a hand axe in-situ from the floor of one of the excavations (center image... bottom center)above.
These are very similar to the stone assemblages commonly found throughout the surrounding countryside on the surface and more especially when one plows for farming or excavates holes in the area.
A very interesting article gavvet, I shall be following you.
It certainly makes you think what other artifacts could have been found had the mining not destroyed so much. It is not unheard of though - just look at this Construction company destroying a Belizean pyramid:
wow unbelievable... actually its not... destruction of sites happens all to often :(
Yes, it certainly does. It seems large corporations and companies think they have a right to destroy history for the sake of profit... just how can you put a price on the remains of a culture that has disappeared leaving only their finest feats of architecture. I find it unexceptable and shameful.
I am not sure if you would be interested, but I recently wrote an article on Gobekli Tepe (the oldest remains of civilisation) - I would love to get your opinions on the matter if you have the time, cheers Gavvet.
https://steemit.com/archaeology/@elduderino/the-greatest-archaeological-discovery-of-all-time-the-lost-civilisation
last month when I visited Chennai Archaeological Museum I fell in love in it......
India has some great stuff...
Are you an archeoloigst?
No, but my great grand mother was and I grew up with her books and collection of artifacts.
It was once my dream proffesion, but i guess not all dreams come true. Plus it was probably far too romanticised by Indiana Jones
That's awesome! I was wondering (I was an archaeologist for a while!)
And.... tell us more... temple of doom stuff?
That soil! It must be hell to keep your sidewalls straight? It looks crumbly.
Visited a couple of months later and since it was no longer active most of it had caved in.
They didn't find a grail perhaps, did they?! ;)
unluckily not... They didn't have Harrison Ford or Lara Croft on the team
A related detail that may interest you, in terms of the progression of hominid thinking and language faculties, is the importance of playing games. Through non-violent competition with one another, we developed a higher sense of identity for ourselves, others, and groups relative to different groups, in addition to the ability to communicate complex abstract ideas. :)
thanks, for that.
Awesome. I always used to watch Time Team on the TV as a kid and was fascinated by the whole process. It must be great fun to unearth a whole story, of lives and/or a community that once was.
you are good :)
as well as being good, i'm also perfect, but shooosh don't tell anyone that its a secret :D
Incredible findings, thank you so much for sharing the pictures and findings with us all. Namaste :)
Interesting Fact:
The Cradle of Humankind was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999, due to the wealth of hominid fossils discovered here!
Always interesting to visit archaeology dig in person ... your so lucky!
Interesting findings!! Thank you for sharing!