They were looking for gold. They found the origin of humanity.

This was in Sterkfontein, an archaeological site in South Africa, where “Mrs Ples” and “Little Foot” were found. They are among the oldest artefacts of mankind, and the whole area is called “The Craddle of Mankind”. Once upon a time, a couple of prospectors discovered a narrow cave there. Not founding any gold: Dynamit in, KABOOM and the cave`s bigger.
They probably blew up some homonid remains in the process. But it didn‘t hit Mrs Ples, not until 1947 Dr. Broom excavate her. An exceptionally well-preserved skull of an Australopithecus africanus of the genus Plesianthropus, almost-human, which achieved world fame under the nickname “Mrs Ples”. A sensational find!

These are the scientific facts. Much more interesting is the emotional dimension: “The Craddle of Humanity”; to be there in the wild scrbland of South Africa: an inkling of the primeval. Emotionally it is a powerful, transgressive experience… From Australopithecus Africanus to Homo Digitalis: the past becomes future.

Siegfried Kutterer