Habiline handaxes and Paranthropine pedigree at Sterkfontein

Since 1936 the site of Sterkfontein has been best known for its fossils attributed to Australopithecus africanus. From 1966 a continuous excavation programme àt Sterkfontein has uncovered not only numerous fossils of that species but also a small number of Homo habilis remains associated with stone tools, including handaxes and cleavers of the Early Acheulean. Vertical plots have shown a clear separation between Australopithecus fossils in a talus cone to the east and Homo habilis fossils with stone tools to the west. The Australopithecus bones which were probably dropped through a slot in the original cavern roof by big cats are here argued to represent two species which have erroneously been grouped as one. The first with smaller teeth is Australopithecus africanus and was the probable direct ancestor to Homo. The second species has large teeth and a cranial morphology trending toward Paranthropus.