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The universe was formed about 14-billion years ago. The Earth is about 4.6-billion years old.

Life first emerged about 3.8-billion years ago. Our journey begins in South Africa, where fossils of some of the earliest known life forms on Earth have been found.

South Africa has yielded fossils of some of the earliest known dinosaurs, dating back at least 200-million years.

Fossils of our distant mammal-like ancestors, which lived more than 200-million years ago, have also been found in South Africa.

Africa is the birthplace of humankind. This is where our collective umbilical cord lies buried.

Hominids - the ancestors of modern humans - first emerged about seven million years ago, in Africa.

Many significant fossil finds have been made in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, including the famous fossils "Mrs Ples" and "Little Foot".

The first stone tools were made and used in Africa, at least 2.6-million years ago.

Our ancestors were able to use and control fire at least one million years ago in the Cradle of Humankind.

Homo sapiens, the species to which we all belong, evolved in Africa approximately 200 000 years ago.

Africa ignited humankind's imagination. Some of the oldest rock art in the world has been discovered in Southern Africa.

All of humanity shares an African heritage. We are one diverse species across the globe, with our roots in Africa.
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The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site

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The universe was formed about 14-billion years ago. The Earth is about 4.6-billion years old. Life first emerged about 3.8-billion years ago. Our journey begins in South Africa, where fossils of some of the earliest known life forms on Earth have been found.

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Kingdom: Plantae. Clade: Tracheophytes. Clade: Spermatophytes. Division: Cycadophyta. Class: Cycadopsida. Order: Cycadales. 

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Living Fossils in SA - Dineo, M; Zandisiwe, M and Mesuli S. 

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Living Fossils in SA - Dineo, M; Zandisiwe, M and Mesuli S. 

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The Encephalartos longifolius, also known as Cycads have been in existence for over 280 million years.
There are several rare species of cycads found exclusively within South Africa. They grow very slowly and live for up to a 1000 years. Because they are such a rare species, there are several restrictions on what can be done to them. In South Africa, unless required for conservation purposes, it is illegal to collect, pluck, destroy, export or possess cycads without a special permit. This type of plant can be found in Uitenhage and Somerset East which are in the Eastern Cape province. The plant is tall and stately.
Due to superficial similarities in foliage and plant structure, cycads and palms are often mistaken for each other. They also can occur in similar climates. However, they belong to different phyla and as such are not closely related. The similar structure is the product of convergent evolution.

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JACKAL SCULL
Lost after its discovery in the 1930s, its location was rediscovered in 2009. It is known for its well-preserved jackal skulls.
The Jackal scull has larger canines and teeth's than the todays jackals.
The scull is about 10 centimeters long.
We discovered the skull while mining since this is a mining site
Cradle Human Kind

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First fossil trails of baby sea turtles found in South Africa! (Thapelo and Pamela)

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First fossil trails of baby sea turtles found in South Africa! (Thapelo and Pamela)

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We have found fossilized baby turtle tracks for the first time ever off South Africa's Cape South coast and they're 100 000 years old. We have created the genus and species names Australochelichnus agulhasii and Marinerichnus latus for the two distinctively different trackway patterns we have found, that resemble those made today by hatchling Loggerhead and Leatherback turtles respectively. The turtle tracks were spotted on a large rock surface in 2016.
They are the first fossilized sea turtle hatchling tracks known to the fossil record. The find was new to science that the researchers had to invent a new scientific term for the tracks called marineropodidae.

https://theconversation.com/first-fossil-trails-of-baby-sea-turtles-found-in-south-africa-122434

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The fish is a known living fossil
Belongs to class of vertebrates called Sarcoterygii, its name is derived from the hollow spine that projects from the caudal fin.
Found in South Africa parts of Africa and Indonesia, lives in 100 and 700 meters depth in the ocean.
They are carnivore in nature but don't show signs of being aggressive
https://www.knysnamuseums.co.za/pages/the-coelacanth/