Learning with Granny!
Cyberkids in Africa
Some of you who have been working on your own genealogy and compiling a Family
Tree will know that it's difficult to even get past great grandparents
if there is no written information. You will then fully understand what an
enormous task it is to trace our earliest human ancestors. This month our
characters set off to learn about some of our ancestors from the fossil remains
that have been so carefully extracted from their ancient resting places by
dedicated paleontologists.
"I remember this place," said Margie as they
turned in at a gate with a sign that said Sterkfontein. "It's where we
dropped Granny when she went to the Congress
". (Read more here)
 The
children were thrilled to enter the cave after carefully descending the stone
steps to hear all about the two million year old skull identified as
belonging to the group Australopithecus africanus and know as Mrs. Ples.
that had been found there in 1947 by Robert Broom of the Transvaal Museum and
John Robinson.
Mrs Ples has become so popular as nearly everyone wants
to see this intact skull of one our early hominid ancestors and to learn more
about the past so Dr.
Francis Thackerey - Head of the Palaeontology Department at The Transvaal
Museum in Pretoria, came up with the wonderful idea to have copies moulded to
circulate around the country to help create public awareness.
 Everyone
was intrigued to see the 40 metre deep underground lake and to hear that it had
been thought by the local tribes to have healing powers. "Granny, is this
where Littlefoot was found?" asked Lee. "I remember that -"
interrupted Vinny "- we read about it in the South African Journal of
Science.
"That's right" answered Granny "It was
not long after the Congress '98 when people from all over the world had been at
Sterkfontein that there was an announcement of the find of an almost complete
fossil skeleton and skull of a hominid - thought to have lived somewhere between
3 - 3.5 million years ago. The team who had found it was led by Dr. Ron Clarke,
who had been studying a number of Austrolopithecus foot bones which had been
stored in a box for many years. He was able to connect these 'Littlefoot' bones
with the wonderful find at Sterkfontein and tell the world more about our
ancestors.
Sterkfontein Caves have been unveiling the secrets of
our very early hominid ancestors for many decades now. They haven't stopped and
there is new evidence of a family being uncovered now."
"Where are they Gran - can we see them?" asked Vinny. "No"
said Granny "we have to wait until the difficult painstaking work of
removing them from the dolomite and brescia that has encased them over the
years."
"What are dolomite and brescia Granny?" asked
Terry . Granny had to think for awhile before answering. "They are rocks in
the earth. Another name for dolomite is magnesium limestone because this rock
contains this lightweight metal in a crystalised form - you can see it all
around here in the cave," she said touching the hard cold 'walls'.
"Brescia is like marble - it gets it's name from a city called Brescia in
Northern Italy where it was first mined about 600 years ago. It has many uses
including the use by famous sculptors through the ages to make wonderful statues
because it is very hard and can be beautifully polished. Remind me when we get
home and I'll show you old photographs of how it was mined and transported to
the docks for export many years ago".
 Granny might forget, so we put them in here for you.
Enter the image on the right for a larger picture.
From Sterkfontein, the group went on to Swartkrans
which was close by. Here they heard about more hominid finds from Dr. Bob Brain.
See the excavations by entering the image on the right.
 Finds at Swartkrans add up to more than 134 hominid individuals and contribute
considerably to the collection of finds in Africa. The evidence of early tools
made from bone and of early use of fire has also been recorded .
The next site was Gladysvale where many hominid fossils
have been found as well as many important animal finds. Terry filled them in
with her remark " Dr. Lee Burger worked here". "How do you know
that?" asked Ann. "I read about him in The National Geographic and he
was awarded a prize by them for research and exploration." You can read a
review of his book.
The last one they visited in this area was Drimolen -
which is still being researched and a number of valuable specimens of
australopithecine have been found.
 As Grandpa got in the Combi he asked the children. "Have you had enough for
one day?" "No!" they answered in one voice. "I wanted to see
where Lucy came from" said Margie. "That's too far away up north for us
to go on this trip," said Granny. "Here is a map of Africa indicating
where fossil ancestors have been found - we would never be able to visit all the
sites in one day!" Enter the map on the right to see some places where
hominif fossils have been found.
"We'll go and see some more tomorrow when we drive further north" said
Grandpa bringing a smile to everyone's face.
For a better idea of the area covered by the group on the first day visit this website.
Remember to click "Back' to continue the story as Grandpa has a surprise
for the Cyberkids.
He didn't tell them of the surprise he had in store for
the next day. So they were all thrilled to arrive at the majestic entrance to
the wonderful man-made version of a spectacular ancient city.
They spent hours amongst the palatial buildings and statues. They walked like
royalty through the domed arches and 'historical' monuments - each creating
visions of their own to be remembered for ever. Finally they arrived on a
typical African beach and swam in the breakers of the man-made in-land 'sea'.
"I thought it was funny when you said we must put on our swimming costumes
today grandpa," said Margie.
"Was this what it was like in Africa in the 'old-days?" asked Ann.
"Who knows - there are some wonderful ruins on ancient African
civilizations which we will have to find out more about some time," said
Granny thinking about some well known ruins.
There were more interesting places to visit the next
day when everyone was well rested. Lots of evidence of the early habitation of
Mankind from the early australopithecine's to Middle Age, Stone Age and Iron Age
all found in the Makpansgat Valley. There was so much history to remember that
the older children started taking notes.
Margie perked up when she heard about the
extinct buffalo remains that had been found in a cave called Buffalo Cave.
Lee had been looking at the list of sites and caves in South Africa alone.
"There are more sites in the Free State and the Northern Cape, also North
and East of Cape Town Granny - anyone wanting to learn the history of Africa has
plenty of places to choose from." "They certainty have" answered
Granny "It will be nice to find out more about the ones we've seen when we
get home".
"Are we home?" asked Margie lifting her head off Terry's lap.
"Not yet - go back to sleep" said Terry gently coaxing her sister's
head back down.
POEM of the MONTH
The Spirit of Africa
Search in Africa you sons and daughters
Circled round by sparkling waters
Go in-land and climb the mountains
Carrying waterfalls and sparkling fountains
Gaze across rich open plains
Find what from your past remains
Shift across its deserts dry
Once green, now parched beneath the sky
Look the people in the face
Each one proudly showing the trace
Of the culture they embrace
Representing every race.
Here you'll find in Africa's heart
The cradle where humankind made a start
Wherever you're from you'll learn who you are
If you follow the trail back to Africa.
---------------
Jennifer Leigh Marais
2000
Message from Granny
Dear Friends,
I have only touched on the complex subjects on our 'trip through time,' but I
hope you will be stimulated into searching for more on the Web, in books,
newspapers, radio TV and by communicating with others. Ask your teacher for
directions to find information, spend time finding treasures in libraries and
take any opportunity to travel with your family. Watch documentaries on TV
and don't be too 'grown-up' to watch the animated children's programs or read a
cartoon. You will find a fortune of knowledge you can share easily with others
yourself.
If you live outside Africa and are planning a visit -
take the opportunity to learn something about 'The Cradle of Africa' and go
exploring the fossil and Rock Art sites. We have experts right on our doorstep
devoting their lives to researching OUR shared ancestors. Ask your teacher or
parents to help you find out more.
Next Month...
I hope those who have been with us since the beginning of the Learning with
Granny series, or
joined us along the way, will stay with us as we fuel up our imaginary Sci/Time
machine and attempt to follow 'Humankinds's Migrations' , decipher the record of their
'Migrations' and try to understand the scientific meaning of the
inter-relationship of all life.
If you would like to e-mail Granny
your questions and ideas please do so at granny@scienceinafrica.co.za
Until Next Month, Happy Reading!
Granny Jenny
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