As an extension of what pupils have been taught in class, pupils from Howick Preparatory School recently spent time at the Cradle of Humankind just outside of Johannesburg. The Cradle of Humankind which was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999 incorporates the Sterkfontein Caves which contain the discovery of a 2.3 million year old fossil, Australopithecus Africanus (nicknamed “Mrs Ples”) which was found in 1947 by Robert Broom. The discovery helped corroborate the 1924 discovery of the juvenile Australopithecus Africanus skull, Taung Child”, by Raymond Dart, at Taung in the North West Province where excavations still continue.
The attached photograph was taken of the group of Howick Prep pupils as they were about to enter the Sterkfontein Caves.
News supplied by Howick Preparatory School.