Image reference: 6734
Title:
Australopithecus africanus, the Taung child
Description:
Frontal view of a cast of a skull of Australopithecus africanus from Taung, Cape Province, South Africa. The original skull, thought to be of a child aged between 3-4 was discovered in 1924 by Raymond Dart.
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Collection: Anthropology
Category: Lower Palaeolithic 2.5million-
Keywords: australopithecine, australopithecus, cast, child, dart, raymond, hominid, skull, taung
Genus/Species :
Australopithecus africanus
© The Natural History Museum, London
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| | Dr Raymond Dart was the first to name the species A. africanus in 1925 after discovering the fossil cranium of what he called ?Taung Child.? At first the cranium was thought to be that of a pongid, but Dart?s closer inspection revealed that this specimen had once walked upright. Having claimed to have found the missing link, Dart?s theories were not well received and wouldn?t gain recognition until Dr. Broom, during the 1930s excavated more evidence in support of the existence of A. africanus.
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