{"id":71800,"date":"2026-02-20T11:05:27","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T11:05:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indirectmediatest.co.za\/?page_id=71800"},"modified":"2026-02-27T12:47:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T12:47:50","slug":"fossil-sites","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.indirectmediatest.co.za\/?page_id=71800","title":{"rendered":"Fossil Sites"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Hero&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;gcid-68c6b9ad-55a2-4756-9f20-a801af585cf6&#8243; background_enable_image=&#8221;off&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||37px||false|false&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; collapsed=&#8221;on&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-68c6b9ad-55a2-4756-9f20-a801af585cf6%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;5138c454-be54-4233-bd3b-f8e6a8747976&#8243; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;73121f80-a3ef-4484-8763-c3f18e3c56d2&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_heading title=&#8221;In the heart of the Cradle World Heritage Site&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;ddeb8c09-9078-4424-bc15-2efb6572e28e&#8221; title_font=&#8221;&#8211;et_global_heading_font|600|||||||&#8221; title_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; title_font_size=&#8221;54px&#8221; title_line_height=&#8221;1.15em&#8221; title_font_size_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; title_font_size_phone=&#8221;24px&#8221; title_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text quote_border_color=&#8221;#57cc99&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;2c55a9c4-feed-423b-9edb-ae0b5b365cac&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Source Sans Pro|Source Sans Pro_weight|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.75em&#8221; link_font=&#8221;|Source Sans Pro_weight|||||||&#8221; link_text_color=&#8221;#22577a&#8221; quote_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; quote_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; header_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_font_size=&#8221;72px&#8221; header_line_height=&#8221;1.15em&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; header_2_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_2_font_size=&#8221;50px&#8221; header_2_line_height=&#8221;1.2em&#8221; header_3_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; header_3_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_3_font_size=&#8221;32px&#8221; header_3_line_height=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; header_4_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; header_4_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_4_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; header_4_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_5_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; header_5_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_5_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; header_5_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_6_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; header_6_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_6_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;15px&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; header_font_size_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; header_font_size_phone=&#8221;24px&#8221; header_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; header_2_font_size_tablet=&#8221;28px&#8221; header_2_font_size_phone=&#8221;20px&#8221; header_2_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; header_3_font_size_tablet=&#8221;22px&#8221; header_3_font_size_phone=&#8221;17px&#8221; header_3_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; header_4_font_size_tablet=&#8221;18px&#8221; header_4_font_size_phone=&#8221;15px&#8221; header_4_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; header_5_font_size_tablet=&#8221;15px&#8221; header_5_font_size_phone=&#8221;14px&#8221; header_5_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; header_6_font_size_tablet=&#8221;13px&#8221; header_6_font_size_phone=&#8221;13px&#8221; header_6_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Guided by specialists, you will be transported by open safari vehicle through the pristine highveld and bushveld landscape of the Greater Cradle Nature Reserve to two of the world&#8217;s most famous fossil sites &#8211; Gladysvale and Malapa. These active dig sites, which are not accessible to the general public, continue to yield hominin and animal fossils of international scientific importance.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;73121f80-a3ef-4484-8763-c3f18e3c56d2&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.indirectmediatest.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Cradle_07p0-1.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Cradle_07p0-1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; min_height=&#8221;283.1px&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;16px|||||&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;About&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||16px|||&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; collapsed=&#8221;on&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;1px|auto||auto||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_heading title=&#8221;GLADYSVALE CAVE&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;ddeb8c09-9078-4424-bc15-2efb6572e28e&#8221; title_font=&#8221;&#8211;et_global_heading_font|600|||||||&#8221; title_text_color=&#8221;gcid-68c6b9ad-55a2-4756-9f20-a801af585cf6&#8243; title_font_size=&#8221;60px&#8221; title_line_height=&#8221;1.15em&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;7px|||||&#8221; title_font_size_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; title_font_size_phone=&#8221;24px&#8221; title_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-68c6b9ad-55a2-4756-9f20-a801af585cf6%22:%91%22title_text_color%22%93}&#8221;][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text quote_border_color=&#8221;#57cc99&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;2c55a9c4-feed-423b-9edb-ae0b5b365cac&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Source Sans Pro|Source Sans Pro_weight|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#3c3a47&#8243; text_line_height=&#8221;1.75em&#8221; link_font=&#8221;|Source Sans Pro_weight|||||||&#8221; link_text_color=&#8221;#22577a&#8221; quote_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; quote_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; header_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_font_size=&#8221;72px&#8221; header_line_height=&#8221;1.15em&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; header_2_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_2_font_size=&#8221;50px&#8221; header_2_line_height=&#8221;1.2em&#8221; header_3_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; header_3_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_3_font_size=&#8221;32px&#8221; header_3_line_height=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; header_4_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; header_4_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_4_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; header_4_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_5_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; header_5_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_5_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; header_5_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_6_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; header_6_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_6_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-4px||||false|false&#8221; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;15px&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; header_font_size_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; header_font_size_phone=&#8221;24px&#8221; header_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; header_2_font_size_tablet=&#8221;28px&#8221; header_2_font_size_phone=&#8221;20px&#8221; header_2_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; header_3_font_size_tablet=&#8221;22px&#8221; header_3_font_size_phone=&#8221;17px&#8221; header_3_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; header_4_font_size_tablet=&#8221;18px&#8221; header_4_font_size_phone=&#8221;15px&#8221; header_4_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; header_5_font_size_tablet=&#8221;15px&#8221; header_5_font_size_phone=&#8221;14px&#8221; header_5_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; header_6_font_size_tablet=&#8221;13px&#8221; header_6_font_size_phone=&#8221;13px&#8221; header_6_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Gladysvale Cave has yielded over a quarter of a million animal fossils since the mid 1930s, including hominid fossils attributed to Australopithicus africanus and early Homo. Millions of fossils remain embedded in the cave awaiting excavation. The tour explains the process of fossilization with reference to the numerous fossil-encased breccia blocks at the site.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.indirectmediatest.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gemini_Generated_Image_r8uubur8uubur8uu.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Gemini_Generated_Image_r8uubur8uubur8uu&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;1cc6152f-565c-4c4d-b0c9-cf8c9576c341&#8243; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset3&#8243; box_shadow_vertical=&#8221;40px&#8221; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;112px&#8221; box_shadow_spread=&#8221;-24px&#8221; box_shadow_color=&#8221;rgba(0,0,0,0.12)&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;About&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;gcid-68c6b9ad-55a2-4756-9f20-a801af585cf6&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;||16px|||&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; collapsed=&#8221;on&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{%22gcid-68c6b9ad-55a2-4756-9f20-a801af585cf6%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;1px|auto||auto||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_heading title=&#8221;MALAPA CAVE&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;ddeb8c09-9078-4424-bc15-2efb6572e28e&#8221; title_font=&#8221;&#8211;et_global_heading_font|600|||||||&#8221; title_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; title_font_size=&#8221;60px&#8221; title_line_height=&#8221;1.15em&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;7px|||||&#8221; title_font_size_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; title_font_size_phone=&#8221;24px&#8221; title_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; locked=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text quote_border_color=&#8221;#57cc99&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;2c55a9c4-feed-423b-9edb-ae0b5b365cac&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Source Sans Pro|Source Sans Pro_weight|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.75em&#8221; link_font=&#8221;|Source Sans Pro_weight|||||||&#8221; link_text_color=&#8221;#22577a&#8221; quote_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; quote_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; header_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_font_size=&#8221;72px&#8221; header_line_height=&#8221;1.15em&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; header_2_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_2_font_size=&#8221;50px&#8221; header_2_line_height=&#8221;1.2em&#8221; header_3_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; header_3_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_3_font_size=&#8221;32px&#8221; header_3_line_height=&#8221;1.3em&#8221; header_4_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; header_4_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_4_font_size=&#8221;24px&#8221; header_4_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_5_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; header_5_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_5_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; header_5_line_height=&#8221;1.4em&#8221; header_6_font=&#8221;Playfair Display|Playfair Display_weight|||||||&#8221; header_6_text_color=&#8221;#0e0c19&#8243; header_6_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-4px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; text_font_size_tablet=&#8221;15px&#8221; text_font_size_phone=&#8221;14px&#8221; text_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; header_font_size_tablet=&#8221;40px&#8221; header_font_size_phone=&#8221;24px&#8221; header_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; header_2_font_size_tablet=&#8221;28px&#8221; header_2_font_size_phone=&#8221;20px&#8221; header_2_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; header_3_font_size_tablet=&#8221;22px&#8221; header_3_font_size_phone=&#8221;17px&#8221; header_3_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; header_4_font_size_tablet=&#8221;18px&#8221; header_4_font_size_phone=&#8221;15px&#8221; header_4_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|tablet&#8221; header_5_font_size_tablet=&#8221;15px&#8221; header_5_font_size_phone=&#8221;14px&#8221; header_5_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; header_6_font_size_tablet=&#8221;13px&#8221; header_6_font_size_phone=&#8221;13px&#8221; header_6_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Malapa Cave is the piece de resistance of the tour and the site where a new species of hominid, Australopithicus sediba, was discovered in 2008. The find, comprising almost complete skeletons of an adult female and a juvenile, represented the most important discovery of early hominid skeletons anywhere in the world. Many more important fossils are embedded in the rocks, awaiting excavation.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.indirectmediatest.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/41586_2015_Article_BF523531a_Figa_HTML.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;41586_2015_Article_BF523531a_Figa_HTML&#8221; align=&#8221;center&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;1cc6152f-565c-4c4d-b0c9-cf8c9576c341&#8243; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset3&#8243; box_shadow_vertical=&#8221;40px&#8221; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;112px&#8221; box_shadow_spread=&#8221;-24px&#8221; box_shadow_color=&#8221;rgba(0,0,0,0.12)&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;About&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.1&#8243; 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