What is Cradle of Humankind?
{{coord|25.96716|S|27.66245|E|display=title}} [[File:Australopithecus sediba.JPG|thumb|right|280px|Skull of a juvenile male ''Australopithecus sediba'']] The '''Cradle of Humankind''' is a [[World Heritage Site]]. It was first named by [[UNESCO]] in 1999. The site is about 50 kilometres northwest of [[Johannesburg]], [[South Africa]] in the [[Gauteng]] province, and occupies {{convert|47000|ha|sqmi}}.<ref>About Maropeng [http://www.maropeng.co.za/index.php/about/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423235449/http://maropeng.co.za/index.php/about/ |date=2013-04-23 }}</ref> The site's [[limestone]] [[cave]]s, including the [[Sterkfontein|Sterkfontein Caves]], were where fossils were found. A 2.3-million year-old fossil ''[[Australopithecus africanus]]'' (nicknamed '[[Mrs. Ples]]') was found in 1947 by [[Robert Broom]] and John T. Robinson. The find followed the 1924 discovery of the juvenile ''Australopithecus africanus'' skull, '[[Taung Child]]', by [[Raymond Dart]], at [[Taung]] in the [[North West (South African province)|North West Province]] of South Africa, where excavations still continue. The name ''Cradle of Humankind'' reflects the fact that the site has produced a large number, as well as some of the oldest, hominid fossils ever found, some dating back as far as 3.5 million years ago.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fleminger|first=David|title=The Cradle of Humankind|year=2008|publisher=30° South Publishers|isbn=978-0958489133|pages=7–10}}</ref> Sterkfontein alone has produced more than a third of early hominid fossils ever found.<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=David|title=Visit to the Cradle of Humankind|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jan/15/sterkfontein-caves-south-africa|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=2010-05-20 | location=London | date=15 January 2010}}</ref> == Recent work == The remains of several partial skeletons of a previously unknown Australopithecan species were found in 2008 near Johannesburg.<ref> Berger L.R. ''et al'' 2010. ''Australopithecus sediba'': a new specie