OTHER IMPORTANT PREHISTORIC SITES IN SA

THE CRADLE OF HUMANKIND Northwest of Johannesburg is one of the world’s most important fossil sites, due to the number of early human fossils found here.

The first adult hominid (early human), Australopithecus, was found here in 1936 and the oldest stone tools – Oldowan – were also discovered at the site among other important finds. It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999.

BAKONI RUINS OF MACHADODORP These stone ruins in Mpumalanga, sometimes called “the lost city of South Africa”, are believed to have been around for more than 200 000 years. The stone walls, which provide evidence of settlements, fields and roads, have puzzled historians for years and some believe they comes from the long-lost Bakoni tribe.

PINNACLE POINT These caves near Mossel Bay are believed to have been home to the first modern humans during the Middle Stone Age. Archaeological excavations there have revealed how people lived between 170 000 and 40 000 years ago.