Maropeng launches Bone Detectives walking tour at Sterkfontein Caves

July 26, 2011 – Julia Lloyd and Bianca Bothma

August at Maropeng is all about discovery with the launch of a new walking tour, Bone Detectives. At just 29 years of age, up-and-coming Wits scientist Brendon Billings has the energy, and the passion for fossils, that make him the ideal leader of these tours at the site of Sterkfontein Caves.
Aptly named Bone Detectives, the tours investigate the seven-million-year evolution of Homo sapiens by looking for evidence in the many fossils found in the area. As Billings says, “Bones provide clues and make it possible for us to piece together the evolutionary story.”

The three tours are Reading the bones of our ancestors, Following the footsteps of legends, and Transformations of body and mind. In all of them Billings uses a hands-on approach, allowing everyone the chance of playing detective.

Join him to unlock clues as you study fascinating castes of fossils discovered in the area. Afterwards our award-winning, accredited guide Reuben Tsime will take you on a walk through the Sterkfontein Caves, where you will be able to appreciate cave formations, and the complexities of fossil discovery.

The morning finishes with a picnic style lunch, allowing you time to digest the superb views over the rolling hills of our birthplace.

The tours are limited to 15 in a group, for adults only, interested in how scientists arrived at their evolutionary conclusions through the study of bones. Book online for the following dates:
August 13: Reading the bones of our ancestors
September 17: Reading the bones of our ancestors
October 8: Transformations in body and mind
November 12: Following the footsteps of legends

Watch this video of Billings talking about the tour:

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