South Africa
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In a locked vault (the "Broom Room") in the basement of the
Transvaal Museum
in Pretoria is the skull of "Mrs. Ples", the first adult
specimen of Australopithecus africanus discovered. It was found
on April 18, 1947 by Dr. Robert Broom at the Sterkfontein
Caves near Johannesburg. The name "Mrs. Ples" comes from the
original name given to the species,
Plesianthropus--almost human. The skull is
approximately 2.5 million years old. Australopithecus
africanus walked upright and had a brain approximately
the size of a modern chimpanzee's. This skull remains
the most complete known cranium of the species. The public
exhibit in the museum is a cast replica of the
fossil shown here.
by John Walker
July, 2001
This document is in the public domain.
