Taung and beyond: The mining history, geology and taphonomy of Australopithecus in South Africa

South Africa's fossil hominid sites, including Taung and the Sterkfontein and Makapan Valleys, hold the world's richest early hominin fossil record, particularly of Australopithecus africanus. This study marks the centenary of the Taung Child discovery by reviewing the landscape formation, mining history, geochronology, and taphonomy that shaped this record. It critically examines the impact of extractive practices on research, highlighting exclusionary practices in mining-centered studies. The sites offer a unique window into early australopith environments, preserved through karstic landscapes. Future research is recommended to standardize excavation techniques and develop new dating methods for cave deposits, aiming to deepen understanding of early hominin evolution and environmental change.

Weij, R., Baker, S. E., Edwards, T. R., Kibii, J., Luti, G., & Pickering, R. (2025). Taung and beyond: The mining history, geology and taphonomy of Australopithecus in South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 121(1/2). https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2025/18509