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Approximate age:1,865,000 years old=average of minimum (1.78 Ma) and maximum (1.95 Ma)

Date based on: U-Pb, Paleomag See map of sites with similar ages

Dating reference: Paul H. G. M. Dirks, Job M. Kibii, Brian F. Kuhn, Christine Steininger, Steven E. Churchill, Jan D. Kramers, et al. (2010). Geological Setting and Age of Australopithecus sediba from Southern Africa. Science, 328, 205-208.

Hominids: Australopithecus africanus  Australopithecus sediba    

Archaeology:      

Important specimens: 2 partial skeletons, the more complete a juvenile. Multiple individuals.

Notes: Australopithecus sediba, a new species named on juvenile material, has not been received well by the paleoanthropological community. Referred to frequently as Homo-like by the discovery team, at less than 2 million years old, Malapa Australopithecus exists well after well-documented occurrences of Homo at Omo, Uraha, and Hadar. The principal investigator is famous for his awareness of the way that popular media interacts with science see also HERE and HERE. Adult specimens from locality fit in range of variation of A. africanus. Specimens are classic Australopithecus... small brained, adept bipeds from before the evolution of extremely dentally-derived robust Australopithecus.

For an interesting angle, check the following links... first Michael Jones, chief technology advocate at Google extols the virtues of Berger's use of Google Earth to find the cave , where his young son later found the hominin cranium. Here is a nearby resort: The Cradle Game Reserve (scroll down and click satellite view for a look), about 2km from the cave opening. They must have a wireless connection in the chalet that allowed the use of Google Earth!

Location: Grootvleispruit streambed, South Africa
Map location/coordinates reference: Paul H. G. M. Dirks, Job M. Kibii, Brian F. Kuhn, Christine Steininger, Steven E. Churchill, Jan D. Kramers, et al. (2010). Geological Setting and Age of Australopithecus sediba from Southern Africa. Science, 328, 205-208. Where is Grootvleispruit!

Key references: Paul H. G. M. Dirks, Job M. Kibii, Brian F. Kuhn, Christine Steininger, Steven E. Churchill, Jan D. Kramers, et al. (2010). Geological Setting and Age of Australopithecus sediba from Southern Africa. Science, 328, 205-208. Where is Grootvleispruit!