Swartkrans
Fossil-rich cave revealing early hominin predation and tool use.
Swartkrans (also spelled Swartkranz) is a fossil-bearing limestone cave in South Africa, designated as a National Heritage Site and located within the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, about 32 km from Johannesburg. It is notable for being extremely rich in archaeological material, particularly hominin remains, including Homo ergaster, Paranthropus, and Homo habilis. The oldest deposits at the site are believed to be between 1.9 and 2.1 million years old.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Gauteng, South Africa
- Part Of
- Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, and Environs part of Fossil Hominid Sites of South Africa
- Criteria
- (iii)(vi)(iii)(vi)
- Year
- 1999
- Extension
- 2005
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Swartkrans was discovered in 1948, and initial excavations were carried out by paleontologist Robert Broom. His team uncovered remains of Paranthropus robustus and early Homo species, indicating they were contemporary. Excavation halted until the mid-1960s and continued into the 1980s under C. K. 'Bob' Brain, whose team uncovered thousands of artifacts and faunal remains, 415 of which are hominin. Brain expanded the understanding of the site's stratigraphy, which was more complex than previously thought.
Reader's Guide
Swartkrans is significant for its rich hominin fossil record and for evidence that reshaped views of early human behavior. C. K. Brain's excavations inspired his book The Hunters or the Hunted?, which argued that hominin fossils at the site were victims of predation by big cats, not bloodthirsty killers. Originally Dinofelis was blamed, but recent carbon isotope evidence suggests Megantereon or leopards were the likely predators. The site also contains some of the earliest evidence of controlled fire use, up to 1.5 million years ago, and modified bone tools dating to about 1.8 million years ago, possibly used to harvest termites. In 2016, the earliest known evidence of cancer in hominins—an osteosarcoma on a partial foot bone—was announced from Swartkrans. The site's geology is divided into five members, with Homo ergaster and Paranthropus robustus found in Members 1 and 2.
Did You Know?
- Swartkrans is located 1 km from Sterkfontein, another major hominin fossil site.
- The site yielded some of the earliest evidence of controlled fire use, dating to around 1.0 million years ago.
- Bone tools found at Swartkrans, dating to about 1.8 million years ago, may have been used to harvest termites.
- In 2016, the earliest known evidence of a benign tumor (osteoma) in a hominin was discovered at Swartkrans.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is Swartkrans?
Swartkrans is a fossil-rich limestone cave in South Africa that sits within the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, roughly 32 km outside Johannesburg. It is also designated as a South African National Heritage Site.
What makes Swartkrans so important to paleoanthropology?
The cave has produced an extraordinary concentration of early hominin remains, including specimens of Homo ergaster, Paranthropus, and Homo habilis, making it one of the most archaeologically rich sites on the continent.
How old are the oldest layers at Swartkrans?
The deepest deposits date back to roughly 1.9 to 2.1 million years ago, placing them squarely in the early Pleistocene.
Who are the key researchers associated with Swartkrans?
Palaeontologist Robert Broom and archaeologist C. K. 'Bob' Brain are among the most prominent figures who excavated and studied the site's remarkable fossil record.
What can Swartkrans tell us about early human behaviour?
The fossil assemblage provides evidence of predation by early hominins and the use of stone tools, offering a rare window into how our ancestors lived, hunted, and survived in the landscape.
More in World Heritage Sites in South Africa 1-19
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