Motsetsi Cave (also known as Motsetse) is a fossil-bearing breccia filled cavity located about 14 kilometres (8.7ย mi) east of the well known South African hominid-bearing sites of Sterkfontein and Kromdraai and about 45 kilometres (28ย mi) north-northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa. Motsetsi has been declared a South African National Heritage Site.[1]
| Motsetse Fossil Site, Cradle of Humankind | |
|---|---|
  Location in Gauteng | |
| Location | Gauteng, South Africa |
| Nearestย city | Krugersdorp, South Africa |
| Coordinates | 25ยฐ54โฒ30โณS 27ยฐ49โฒ57โณE๏ปฟ / ๏ปฟ25.90833ยฐS 27.83250ยฐE |
| Established | Incorporated into the Cradle of Humankind 1999 |
| Governingย body | Cradle of Humankind and private landowner |
History of investigations
edit
ย Motsetsi has been investigated since its discovery by Lee Berger in 1999.[2] Since then a series of part-time excavations have recovered tens of thousands of fossils. Excavations have been conducted at Motsetse by the University of the Witwatersrand and at times in conjunction with Peter Schmid of the University of Zurich. Only a very small part of this site has been excavated.[2]
Recovered fossils
editOf the many thousands of fossils recovered from Motsetsi, no hominid fossils have yet been found. Many very fine fossils of other animals, however, have been discovered including the remains of very well preserved Dinofelis fossils โ a type of false saber-toothed cat.[3]
Geology
editMotsetse is a series of breccia-filled dolomitic caves that formed in a fissure along a geological fault.
ย Age of the deposits
editMotsetsi has been dated to 1.0 to 1.6 million years old based on the animals recovered.[3]
References
edit- ^ "9/2/233/0033 - Motsetse, Tweefontein 523 JQ, Gauteng". South African Heritage Resources Agency. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
- ^ a b Hilton-Barber, Brett; Berger, Lee R. (2004). Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind: Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai & Environs World Heritage Site. Struik. ISBNย 978-1-77007-065-3.
- ^ a b Berger, L.R.; Lacruz, R. (2003). "Preliminary report on the first excavations at the new fossil site of Motsetse, Gauteng, South Africa". South African Journal of Science. 99 (5/6): 279โ283. hdl:10520/EJC97627.
