Archaeological Discovery: Earliest evidence of our cave-dwelling human ancestors

A research team led by Professor Michael Chazan, director of the University of Toronto's Archaeology Centre, has discovered the earliest evidence of our cave-dwelling human ancestors at the Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa.

Stone tools found at the bottom level of the cave -- believed to be 2 million years old -- show that human ancestors were in the cave earlier than ever thought before. Geological evidence indicates that these tools were left in the cave and not washed into the site from the outside world.

Archaeological investigations of the Wonderwerk cave -- a South African National Heritage site due to its role in discovering the human and environmental history of the area -- began in the 1940s and research continues to this day.

###

Detailed press info online at http://www. artsci. utoronto. c/ main/ wonderwerk-press-info. pdf

Images are available for download at: http://public. me. co/ mchazan (See "Press" folder)

CONTACT:

Michael Chazan

(Professor Chazan returns to Toronto on Tuesday).

Email: mchazan@me.com

(when traveling) and mchazan@chass.utoronto.ca