Plovers Lake, Archaeological and paleontological site in Gauteng, South Africa
Plovers Lake is an excavation site about 45 kilometers northwest of Johannesburg situated within a dolomitic cave system in Bloubank Valley. The location contains two main depositional layers, with the inner section extending several hundred meters beneath an intact roof.
Excavations from 2002 to 2004 uncovered Middle Stone Age tools, human skeletal remains, and over 25,000 fossil specimens spanning back 70,000 years. These discoveries document sustained human occupation of the region across a lengthy period.
This site belongs to the Cradle of Humankind and reveals how early humans lived in this region and what the environment was like long ago. Visitors can observe how the discoveries here tell the story of prehistoric daily life.
Visitors should be aware that active research teams regularly work at the site, so access may be limited or require special arrangements. It is best to check ahead about access rules and the availability of guided visits.
Analysis of bones reveals that brown hyenas were instrumental in collecting the fossil remains and created distinctive damage patterns in the process. This makes the collection particularly valuable for understanding how paleontological deposits form.
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