| Motsetse Fossil Site, Cradle of Humankind | |
|---|---|
  Location in Gauteng | |
| Location | Gauteng, South Africa |
| Nearest city | Krugersdorp, South Africa |
| Coordinates | 25°54′30″S27°49′57″E / 25.90833°S 27.83250°E /-25.90833; 27.83250 |
| Established | Incorporated into the Cradle of Humankind 1999 |
| Governing body | Cradle of Humankind and private landowner |
Motsetsi Cave (also known asMotsetse) is a fossil-bearingbreccia filled cavity located about 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) east of the well known South Africanhominid-bearing sites ofSterkfontein andKromdraai and about 45 kilometres (28 mi) north-northwest ofJohannesburg,South Africa. Motsetsi has been declared aSouth African National Heritage Site.[1]
Motsetsi has been investigated since its discovery byLee 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 theUniversity of the Witwatersrand and at times in conjunction with Peter Schmid of theUniversity of Zurich. Only a very small part of this site has been excavated.[2]
Of 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 preservedDinofelis fossils – a type of false saber-toothed cat.[3]
Motsetse is a series of breccia-filled dolomitic caves that formed in a fissure along a geological fault.
Motsetsi has been dated to 1.0 to 1.6 million years old based on the animals recovered.[3]
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