Swartkrans , one of three neighboring paleoanthropological sites in South Africa, west of Johannesburg , where important fossil remains of hominins (members of the human lineage) have been found. The remains date from 1.8 to 1 million years ago and include both early Homo styles as well Paranthropus robustus . Fossils found there have shown that more than one hominin species inhabited the region at one time.
Swartkrans is a limestone cave that fossils accumulated via vents to the surface, which occurred sporadically over the course of the geological time . Most early bone accumulations appear to be the result of carnivore kills . On the oldest levels are the remains of over 100 individuals of P. robustus and some examples of early Homo . The associated animal fossils suggest the presence of dry grassy habitats at this time. Stone and bone tools appear throughout the sequence. Swartkrans, Sterkfontein and Kromdraai are located in the Cradle of Humanity, a UNESCO designated region World Heritage Site in 1999.