I showed you the underground features at Sterkfontein about three weeks ago, so here is the promised follow on.
https://steemit.com/spelunking/@gavvet/spelunking-the-sport-of-troglodytes
Sterkfontein was originally mined for calcium deposits used in explosives and paint in the early gold mines. Those mining activities undoubtedly destroyed many fossils but made the first ones visible to scientists…
Robert Broom was the one who identified and began excavating and preserving these at Sterkfontein…
A bronze bust with a replica of one of his finds is placed at the exit of the cave to honor his contributions to science by identifying and preserving the site.
Many of the great finds including Mrs. Ples come from these surface deposits which are actually the floors of older eroded caves.
The walkways are erected to allow easy access for students and scientists.
Fossils are from animals and hominids that fell to their deaths down vertical slots like these at the surface or were dragged into the now eroded caves by predators.
While building the visitors center stone tools were discovered
This resulted in more excavations around the visitors’ center for display purposes and teaching archeology students.
Below is a hand axe in-situ from the floor of one of the excavations (center image... bottom center)above.
These are very similar to the stone assemblages commonly found throughout the surrounding countryside on the surface and more especially when one plows for farming or excavates holes in the area.