The Transvaal Museum curates a fossil skull that has been given the nickname “Mrs Ples”. Its scientific name is Australopithecus africanus, and it represents a distant relative of all humankind.  The fossil was discovered in the Cradle of Humankind and is about 2.1 million years old. It was discovered in 1947 by Dr Robert Broom, a palaeontologist. He believed that “Mrs Ples” was female, on account of small canine-tooth sockets.

New evidence undertaken by Dr Francis Thackeray of the Transvaal Museum, working with collaborators from France, has indicated that “Mrs Ples” was small because it was a juvenile, probably a young adolescent male. The museum curates many thousands of mammals, birds, reptiles and invertebrates, which are used by researchers who wish to understand the diversity of fauna in southern Africa. An exhibition in the Austin Roberts Hall displays specimens that are described in detail in the Austin Roberts guide-book on birds.

Entrance: R20 (adults), R10 (children)
Open: 8am–4pm Daily (Closed Christmas Day & Good Friday)
t 012 322 7632  f 012 322 7939
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