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The Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, and Environs (South Africa)

Document type
Decision
Reference number
VIII.C.1
Date
Nov 29, 1999
Source
UNEP, InforMEA
Status
Active
Subject
Wild species & ecosystems
Treaty
Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (Nov 23, 1972)
Meeting
23e session du Comité
Website
whc.unesco.org
Abstract

Property: The Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai, and Environs

Id. N°: 915

State Party: South Africa

Criteria: C (iii) (vi)

The Committee inscribed this property on the World Heritage List on the basis of criteria (iii) and (vi):

Criteria (iii) and (vi): The Sterkfontein area contains an exceptionally large and scientifically significant group of sites which throw light on the earliest ancestors of humankind. They constitute a vast reserve of scientific information, the potential of which is enormous.

In response to the Delegate of Thailand, ICOMOS indicated that criterion (vi) was proposed due to the importance of the site for the history of humankind, like the Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian (China) and the Sangiran Early Man Site (Indonesia).