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CRADLE OF HUMANKIND 
SWARTKRANS

Swartkrans is located about 1.5km north-west of the Sterkfontein Caves and is owned by the University of the Witwatersrand. Drs Broom and Robinson carried out the first scientific excavations at Swartkrans towards the end of 1948. Unfortunately this attracted the attention of lime miners who began blasting at the site towards the end of 1949. Mining continued until 1951 . Although Robert Broom died in 1951, Robinson recommenced work at Swartkrans until 1953. The Transvaal museum then took over the research at the site, which culminated in a comprehensive programme of excavation between 1965 and 1986 by Dr C. K. Brain. 

To date, more than 200 hominid specimens, mostly attributable to Paranthropus (Australopithecus) robustus, numerous animal remains and stone and'bone tools have been recovered from this site. Apart from these robust hominids, however, Swartkrans was also the first site In Africa to yield remains of Homo ergaster. Homo sapiens, in Africa, is thought to be responsible for the stone tools and possibly for the use of controlled fire at Swartkrans. Deposits at Swartkrans date between 1.8 and 1 m.y.a.. 

Hominid and faunal specimens from Swartkrans are housed at the Transvaal Museum (Northern Flagship Institution). 

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