A world first is coming to Maropeng

Aug 19, 2015

Have you been wondering about the construction work that’s been going on at the official visitor centre to the Cradle of Humankind over the past few weeks? Perhaps you’ve been following us on Twitter or engaging with us on Facebook, and have gotten wind of a world first that’s coming our way this year. Well, here’s our big news:

The University of the Witwatersrand, with generous support from the South African government, is setting up an innovative virtual lab at Maropeng. The state of the art laboratory will be specially built at the Maropeng Interpretation Centre, in the heart of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.

The lab is aimed making the precious hominin fossils, that serve as compelling clues to humanity’s origin story, accessible to people across the world.

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An artist's impression of the virtual lab. Image courtesy of Wits University

The virtual lab is the brainchild of Professor Lee Burger.

Burger is perhaps best known for his discovery of a previously unrecognised species of human ancestor – Australopithecus sediba – in 2008. The site in the Cradle of Humankind where the discovery was made was named Malapa (which means “my home”). Excavations have continued here.

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The Malapa site in the Cradle of Humankind. Image courtesy of Wits University

Scientists will work on a block of stone from Malapa, in the new virtual lab, giving visitors and people watching online an opportunity to view the work as it happens.

The lab, fitted with glass walls and cameras is expected to be fully operational from the beginning of September. People from across the world will be able to view the day’s activities via an online link.

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Skull of Australopithicus sediba

Scientists in the virtual lab will work predominantly on fossils discovered at the Malapa site, where Australopithicus sediba was found. Sediba made history in 2010, when it was recognized as the a new species - the first to be discovered in many years. More, exciting finds are expected to emerge from that Malapa site.

Maropeng’s acting general manager, Lindsay Marshall, says the virtual lab will be a great new addition to Maropeng’s offering.

“Maropeng has been a valuable educational destination for the past decade,” Marshall says, “The virtual lab will help us share the critical knowledge that is emerging in the Cradle of Humankind, about the origins of humanity, with people around the world.”