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Cradle Of Humankind

The no-prisoner Naledi wars
Columns
/ 9 May 2025

The no-prisoner Naledi wars

DREW FORREST looks at the fierce academic controversies ignited by South Africa’s most recent hominin find

By Drew Forrest
Sterkfontein Caves reopened after safety upgrades
National
/ 21 April 2025

Sterkfontein Caves reopened after safety upgrades

The international landmark closed in 2023 after heavy rainfall caused soil movement that threatened safety

By Umamah Bakharia
The God Edition | Searching among the bones for Homo naledi’s soul
Columns
/ 21 April 2025

The God Edition | Searching among the bones for Homo naledi’s soul

Drew Forrest uses one of South Africa’s most important hominid discoveries to debate the paradoxes and contradictions inherent in the religious doctrine of ‘ensoulment’

By Drew Forrest
Zolani Mahola on music, motherhood and meaning
Friday
/ 20 February 2025

Zolani Mahola on music, motherhood and meaning

Reinventing herself through music, nature and purpose, she steps into her true power

By Kibo Ngowi
Ugly vegetables create a beautiful story
The Green Guardian
/ 4 September 2024

Ugly vegetables create a beautiful story

A small agricultural miracle is transforming a community in the Cradle of Humankind

By Derek Davey
Our water crisis is a tinderbox
Editorial
/ 3 March 2024

Our water crisis is a tinderbox

Sewage pollution has harrowing consequences for human health, such as waterborne pathogens like cholera, salmonella, typhoid and hepatitis

By Editorial
Sewage swamp: Mogale City can’t get its shit together
The Green Guardian
/ 3 March 2024

Sewage swamp: Mogale City can’t get its shit together

The pollution is making residents sick and contaminating rivers and groundwater resources in the Cradle of Humankind

By Sheree Bega
Making no bones of science
Friday
/ 12 November 2023

Making no bones of science

This is an edited extract from Sarah Wild’s new book ‘Human Origins’

By Sarah Wild
Filthy rivers run through Cradle of Humankind
The Green Guardian
/ 12 August 2023

Filthy rivers run through Cradle of Humankind

Landowners and businesses in the Unesco World Heritage Site are up in arms over municipal sewage pollution

By Sheree Bega
Cradle of Humankind residents fear sinkholes, groundwater contamination from toxic acid mine drainage
The Green Guardian
/ 12 January 2023

Cradle of Humankind residents fear sinkholes, groundwater contamination from toxic acid mine drainage

Excessive rainfall last month has caused untreated toxic water from old gold mines to decant into waterways on the West Rand

By Sheree Bega
Unearthing Leti, the child of darkness
The Green Guardian
/ 5 November 2021

Unearthing Leti, the child of darkness

The first partial skull of a Homo naledi child, which is believed to be 250 000 years old, has been found in the Cradle of Humankind near Johannesburg

By Sheree Bega
BMW X3 thrives in the M stable
Motoring
/ 28 October 2020

BMW X3 thrives in the M stable

The compact SUV is so at home with its new badge that’s it’s surprising it didn’t happen sooner

By Luke Feltham
Sewage threatens world heritage site
The Green Guardian
/ 18 August 2020

Sewage threatens world heritage site

Years of pollution in the rivers flowing through the Cradle of Humankind, and Mogale City’s inaction — are a risk to the environment, our health and — cultural status.

By Thando Maeko
Putting meat on Homo’s menu
Article
/ 17 August 2018

Putting meat on Homo’s menu

We have been omnivores probably since the time of Lucy, our closest ancestor

By Staff Reporter
The next best thing to a time machine
Article
/ 9 October 2014

The next best thing to a time machine

Palaeoartist John Gurche recreates strikingly realistic models of our ancestors.

By Sarah Wild
Rising Star Expedition spelunks down Cradle of Humankind
Article
/ 27 November 2013

Rising Star Expedition spelunks down Cradle of Humankind

The Rising Star Expedition – a team consisting mostly of women – has been delving deep into the Cradle of Humankind’s caves looking for fossils.

By Sarah Wild
New 2-million-year-old fossil fox found in Sterkfontein
Article
/ 23 January 2013

New 2-million-year-old fossil fox found in Sterkfontein

A two-million-year-old fox fossil has been discovered at an archaeological dig at the Cradle of Humankind in Sterkfontein, researchers announced.

By Sapa
Karabo is finally complete
Article
/ 12 July 2012

Karabo is finally complete

The Sterkfontein Caves have revealed another ancient ancestor, confirming South Africa as the home of humanity, writes Sipho Kings McDermott.

By Sipho Kings
Nine-year-old finds fossil of new hominid species
Article
/ 8 April 2010

Nine-year-old finds fossil of new hominid species

The nine-year-old son of a Wits scientist found a fossil of a new hominid species that lived 1,95m years ago, the scientist revealed on Thursday.

By Staff Reporter
No image available
Article
/ 16 January 2010

Welcome to Sterkfontein, welcome home

Rian Malan, the South African journalist and author, once made a spiky defence of Johannesburg in a British newspaper.

By Staff Reporter

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