In the Setswana language Maropeng means ‘our roots’. Human bones from over 335,000 years ago have been found in the area. One cave held the bones of 15 different bodies from baby to elderly. This museum and the surrounding caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site established in 1999 and the museum opened in 2005.
It is believed that humans did not descend from apes but are a completely seperate species and that there may have been humans as far back as 3 million years. Mrs. Ples and Little Foot are the two most important finds. Mrs. Ples is a complete skull and Little Foot is an almost complete body.
We also learned why this area may be the cradle as well as Ethiopia where Lucy was discovered. Billions of years ago there was one super continent, called Pangia. It divided into north and south then the other continents broke away too. South America, Africa, Australia and Antarctica as well as the sub continent of India. India broke away from Africa and quickly moved to Eurasia where it slammed into the continent with enough force to create the Himalayan Mountains.
We left the museum and went directly to the airport to begin our flights home. Johannasburg to Cape Town (2 hour flight and 6 hour layover), to Amsterdam (11 hour flight and 2 hour layover), then to Chicago (7.5 hour flight and 4 hour layover) to Kansas City ( 1.5 hour flight) 1.5 hour drive home!
We left the museum and went directly to the airport to begin our flights home. Johannasburg to Cape Town (2 hour flight and 6 hour layover), to Amsterdam (11 hour flight and 2 hour layover), then to Chicago (7.5 hour flight and 4 hour layover) to Kansas City ( 1.5 hour flight) 1.5 hour drive home!
Its been the trip of a life time and we have enjoyed sharing it with you!!
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