After a two-year closure prompted by safety concerns and conservation efforts, the Sterkfontein Caves\u2014one of South Africa\u2019s most celebrated paleoanthropological sites\u2014have officially reopened to the public, the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) has announced. <\/p>\n
Located within the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site in Gauteng, the caves have yielded some of the most significant fossil discoveries related to human evolution, including the iconic Australopithecus africanus<\/em> specimens \u201cMrs Ples\u201d and \u201cLittle Foot.\u201d The finds have cemented South Africa\u2019s role as a central player in the field of human origins research.<\/p>\n The site was closed in early 2023 following safety assessments by Wits University\u2019s occupational and safety directorate. The decision came after heavy rainfall in December 2022 saturated soil layers above the cave system, causing destabilisation and increasing the risk of collapse.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were some earth movements, so we put in some sensors and monitored it,\u201d said Professor Nithaya Chetty, Dean of the Faculty of Science at Wits. \u201cWe found areas that needed reinforcement and made the decision to close. We have since conducted several tests, and the cave is now safe.\u201d<\/p>\n It was the first public closure in the site\u2019s history.<\/p>\n The caves now boast refurbished pathways, improved lighting, and enhanced visitor infrastructure. A new interpretive centre is also under development. <\/p>\n Chetty said the upgrades reflect a broader commitment to preserving the site\u2019s integrity while expanding its educational and scientific potential.<\/p>\n \u201cWith a lot of care, attention to detail and scientific advancements, we can preserve the site for many more years to come, just like the site has been preserved for millions of years,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Among the new advancements is the adoption of artificial intelligence to accelerate fossil discovery and analysis. <\/p>\n Traditionally, researchers excavated fossils manually\u2014a painstaking process involving delicate chiselling and brushing. Now, AI tools allow scientists to scan blocks of rock using X-ray technology, offering insight into the fossil\u2019s contents before excavation begins.<\/p>\n \u201cThis saves us years of extracting and lab processing,\u201d Chetty said. \u201cIt will advance science.\u201d<\/p>\n The Sterkfontein Caves are part of a dolomitic system estimated to have formed 20 to 30 million years ago, with over 2.5 kilometres of mapped underground chambers. The unique mineral composition, including calcium carbonate deposited by dripping water, aids in the rare preservation of fossils.<\/p>\n The site has produced more than 700 hominid fossil specimens, making it one of the richest early human fossil sites globally. <\/p>\n “Little Foot,” excavated between 1994 and 1998 by Ron Clarke and a team including Nkwane Molefe and Stephen Motsumi, is considered one of the most complete hominid skeletons ever found, dating back 3.67 million years.<\/p>\n Today, Molefe\u2019s son, researcher Itumeleng Molefe, continues the legacy. Working in the \u201cElephant Chamber,\u201d named for its towering dolomite formations, he described the meticulous nature of the work.<\/p>\n \u201cWe sweep the area with a brush and take out the rocks,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen we see something interesting, we put it aside, clean it up and send it to the lab for inspection. But it\u2019s not every day that we find something\u2014maybe once every two weeks or even once a month. It takes time.\u201d<\/p>\n While the scientific significance of the site is globally recognised, local economic and environmental considerations remain critical.<\/p>\n Tourism is a vital economic driver for the region, but community members in nearby Mogale City have long called for more inclusive development strategies. <\/p>\n Some local guides say they hope the reopening will create more jobs and skills development opportunities.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not just about people coming to see rocks and bones,\u201d said Trevor Buthelezi, a local guide. \u201cIt\u2019s about telling stories, passing on knowledge, and making sure young people from here know what lies beneath their feet.\u201d<\/p>\n To balance preservation with access, the revamped management plan includes caps on daily visitor numbers and an expanded digital presence. Plans include 3D virtual cave tours aimed at schools across South Africa, allowing students to engage with the site without compromising its fragile environment.<\/p>\n The Sterkfontein Caves remain under the sole custodianship of Wits University.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" After a two-year closure prompted by safety concerns and conservation […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":296,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1028","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-africa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1028","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1028"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1028\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1029,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1028\/revisions\/1029"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1028"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1028"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.phithuongbatphu.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1028"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}