A new species of hominid has been found, in the Cradle of Humankind. Australopithecus sediba.

The fossilised remains of Australopithecus sediba, is believed to be almost 2-million years old. The man behind the discovery is Professor Lee Berger from the University of Witwatersrand, his son nine year old Matthew discovered the first hominid remains, a clavicle, or collarbone. Professor Berger soon discovered more hominid fossil remains. In all two fossil remains were discovered. A juvenile of 11 to 13 years and a female in her late 20's.

It has suggested that these species might be candidates for the transitional species between the southern African ape-man, Australopithecus africanus (of which the Taung Child and “Mrs Ples” are examples) and either Homo habilis, or even a direct ancestor of Homo erectus (including specimens like Turkana Boy, Java Man, Peking Man). 

This species has long arms, like an ape, short, powerful hands, a very advanced pelvis (hip bone) and long legs capable of striding and possibly running, like a human’s.

They are preserved in calcified clastic sediments, a hard, concrete-like substance that formed at the bottom of a shallow lake or pool that was about 30m to 50m underground about 1.9- million years ago . The fossils of the juvenile male and adult female were laid down by a single debris flow, indicating the timing of their deaths was closely related and occurred shortly before the debris flow carried them to their burial spot.

The sex of the fossils could be determined from the morphology of the jaws and hips; the age of the juvenile was determined from its dentition, showing that it is around 11 to 13 years old. In contrast, the adult female had strongly worn teeth, signifying she was in her late 20s, or perhaps older. They are both around 1.27m in lenth.

These fossils are on display at the Maropeng Exhibition Centre from April 9 to April 18, 2010.