A 3D reconstruction of the Taung Child

RELATED LINKS: Sterkfontein's old bones A handful of the world's great cities trace their heritage to early human settlements thousands of years back. Johannesburg's earliest residents were in the neighbourhood three million years ago. Read more Heritage sites Johannesburg has about 150 heritage sites, half of which are national monuments. Historic sites are spread across the city, from the Iron Age sites in Midrand in the far north to Mahatma Gandhi's Tolstoy Farm in the south. Read more Wits buries unsettled past with new principal After several tumultuous years of troubled management, Wits University has appointed Professor Loyiso Nongxa as its new Vice-Chancellor. Read more

Original photograph of the Taung Child

Human history on display September 29, 2003 By Lucky Sindane FOR anyone who has ever wondered about the origins of mankind, answers will be provided in a hominid fossil display at the University of Witwatersrand from Monday. Some of the most valuable records of the history of humankind will be on view at the university from Monday 29 September to 1 October. Wits University, home to one of the largest fossil collections in the southern hemisphere, attracts international researchers because of its vast collection. With so much attention focused on the fossils, many new specimens are being discovered and the understanding of human history is constantly being expanded, the university said in a statement. "The most important and valuable fossils that will be on display are the Taung skull and Mr Ples," says senior lecturer in the school of anatomical sciences, Dr Kevin Kuykendall. The fossil display is part of Heritage Month and "is part of our efforts to make our valuable South African treasures more accessible to the public", says Kuykendall. The school of anatomical sciences boasts the Sterkfontein Research Unit and the Makapansgat Area Palaeoecology Project. Researchers from these two groups continue the palaeontology work pioneered by Professor Raymond Dart and continued by Professor Emeritus Philip Tobias, two names synonymous with unearthing human history. The international standing of these units was reaffirmed by the recent announcement, by Dr Ron Clark, of the discovery of a complete hominid skeleton at the Sterkfontein excavation site. During 1998 Tobias was involved in the preparatory work for the submission of the fossil hominid sites of Sterkfontein, Swartskrans, Kromdraai and Environs for inclusion in the World Heritage Sites list. The discovery of several important fossils and the discovery of a new hominid dating method announced in May this year was further proof of the importance of the research units in rediscovering our roots, said a Wits University media statement. A public talk will be held from 11am each day of the exhibition. The fossil exhibit is on from 29 September to 1 October from 10am to 4pm at the Alder Museum, Wits Medical School, 7 York Road, Parktown. "We are expecting many visitors, because these fossils tell the history of mankind," says Kuykendall. "In many countries such display would cost a lot of money - here it is free." Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za