Swartkrans is an archaeological cave site in South Africa, which has been prolific in providing paleoanthropologists with hominid fossils, especially Australopithecus robustus. These finds were crucial in bringing about the acceptance of Australopithecines as hominids. The person commonly associated with discoveries at Swartkrans is Robert Broom, a Scottish physician and devotee of Raymond Dart.
In 1948, part of a mandible was found by Broom in a cave near Swartkrans, less than 1200 meters from another site, Sterkfontien. This mandible had teeth and jaw morphology and size that suggested it was different from fossils that were found nearby. Broom considered it a completely different genus than Australopithecus, but currently such creatures are classified as genus: Australopithecus, species: robustus. The fossil dated from 1.5 to 2 million years old. In 1949, a cranium of approximately the same age, was found, of the same genus (or species), which further cemented evidence for the existence of this new species.
Archaeologists also found stone tools near Swartkrans, crude “cores,” flake and scraping tools, as well as bone tools, that are well correlated with Australopithecine use. Tools and smashed bones of hominids and other animals were found together in the same cave. This kind of evidence led Raymond Dart to assume that Australopithecines were hunters (and murderers) through which he formulated his “Man the Hunter” hypothesis. Further analysis suggested that A. robustus was more prey than predator, that scavengers and weather may have changed and moved the organisms around a bit in the 1.5 to two million year interim between death and discovery. Casual analysis of cause and effect are not always correct. The tools from Swartkrans did provide insight into what A. robustus’ lifestyle may have been.
Homo Erectus fossils, also found at Swartkrans, show different kinds of stone tools, and intentional use of fire. Excavations at Swartkrans continue into the present, and have helped to provide valuable information about the existence of our hominid ancestors.
Written by: Wendy Munson
References:
“Human Evoloution.” Encycolpedia Btitannica
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-67285 (8 Feb., 2000)
“Fossil Hominids: Robert Broom.” talk.originsArchive (24 Apr., 1998) http://talkorigins.org/faqs/homs/rbroom.html (4 Feb., 2000)
“Swartkrans.” http://students.vassar.edu/~mareed/evolution/Swartkrans.html (5 Feb., 2000)