What does it mean to be African? What sets this continent apart? How can we reclaim Africa’s stories? This Africa Day, we’re pondering the big questions by watching some of the most thought-provoking TED talks on these subjects.
When she took the reins as curator at Maropeng, adventurer and archaeologist Keneiloe Molopyane had a compelling notion of the importance of museums in society. Nine months later, on International Museum Day, Molopyane, an archaeologist and biological anthropology PhD candidate, shared her thoughts on the impact and importance of museums on the African continent.
Covid-19 and the lockdowns that countries are dealing with worldwide have meant a reinvention of how people stay connected. Faced with this challenge, three archaeologists, Matt Lotter, Tim Forssman and Matt Caruana, have come together to produce a podcast titled “Bones and Stones”.
Right now, the best thing we can all do for each other is to stay at home and stay healthy. While you’re not able to come and visit us right now, we know you’ll #VisitTheCradleLater. In the meantime, share your best pictures of your adventures in the Cradle of Humankind with us.
Are you scrambling to find interesting ways to keep your children busy during the lockdown? Here’s a look at some of our favourite ideas from around the world.
Human rights are the moral compass that has been guiding and nurturing human civilisation for centuries. They exist to encourage freedom of expression, ensure that people have access to basic necessities and protect us from all kinds of injustices.
As South Africans work together to curb the spread of Covid-19 (the new coronavirus), our team at Maropeng has also put measures in place to protect our visitors.
Maropeng has contributed a whole lot more to history than acting as a discovery site for archaeological treasures. Since opening to the public in 2005, the Unesco World Heritage Site has spent the past 14-plus years hosting world-class conferences, helping to organise prestigious book launches and collaborating with world-renowned intellectuals who are helping to rewrite human history.
Chameleons (Chamaeleonidae) are a family of unique lizards with unusual characteristics: rapidly extendable tongues, feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward, a prehensile tail, and eyes that can move independently of each other. Many species also have the ability to change the colour of their skin.
Whether you’re popping the question this year, celebrating an anniversary or simply looking forward to some quality time with your favourite person in the world, we’ve got you covered. Here’s why.
The team at Maropeng is shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of Mogale City Mayor Naga Patrick Lipudi on Sunday.
My earliest memory of the Cradle of Humankind, as faint as it is, is of a school field trip to the Sterkfontein Caves way back when I was in primary school. I must have been nine or 10 years old. I remember the muddy walk from the buses to caves and I remember being fascinated by the “elephant” in the cave.
Since opening to the public back in 2005, Maropeng has fulfilled more than just its mandate of collecting, preserving and exhibiting items of historical importance.
Here are the terms and conditions to the #MaropengTurns14 competition
“Remote” and “remarkable” – these are words used by delegates to describe Maropeng’s world-class conferencing facilities in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. Over the years, the iconic Maropeng Visitor Centre has hosted a number of prestigious events, ranging from gala dinners to strategy sessions.
Even your home-cooking skills deserve a break during the holidays! So why don’t you take time off and bring the family to the Maropeng Boutique Hotel?
Prepare to make a whole new discovery when you go to the Cradle of Humankind and visit the HANDS that rock the Cradle shop at Maropeng. The arts and crafts shop officially opened its doors for business on 1 November 2019.
Maropeng has bade a fond farewell to the iconic The Long March to Freedom exhibition, which we hosted at Maropeng for nearly a year.
Don’t worry about preparing your own Christmas feast this year. Bring your loved ones out to Maropeng’s Tumulus Restaurant, one of the most picturesque venues in Gauteng, and relax while we take care of the meal.
This year will soon bow out in a blaze of glory and make room for a new decade when we enter 2020! To help you start the new year with energy and enthusiasm, Maropeng is inviting you and your fellow backpackers to its Hominin House.
In case you missed it, Stone Park at Maropeng was a blaze of colour for the second annual Cradle Colour Fest in September. Musical stars Sho Madjozi and DJ Dino Bravo were among the headlining acts at the day-long music festival.
An incredible journey has begun! For the first time ever, South African fossils from the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site have arrived in the United States of America! South Africa’s very own Australopithecus sediba (Karabo) and Homo naledi (Neo) have travelled halfway across the globe to Dallas, Texas.
The author Ayn Rand wrote that “the beauty of the human body is that it hasn’t a single muscle which doesn’t serve its purpose … there’s not a line wasted”. Find out more about the scientific marvel that is the human body at the fascinating #ANATOMY100 public outreach exhibit, which runs at Maropeng from 23 September to 5 October 2019.
It’s that time of year again, when the dry grasses of the Cradle of Humankind slowly start to turn green and we start to feel that irrepressible energy of spring. It’s also the time of year when South Africans ponder our collective and individual identities during Heritage Month.
