Face to Face: Reconstructing Hominins from The Cradle of Humankind
Reconstructing the lives of extinct species, including those much like our own, relies on many fields working hand in hand. In this new exhibit, hominins from The Cradle of Humankind are brought to life by science and art, showcasing reconstructions of Homo naledi and Australopithecus sediba by world-renowned palaeoartist John Gurche.
Have you ever wondered how we know what we know about extinct creatures? How do we tell so much from fossils? What they ate? Where they lived? How they moved? What they looked like? Discoveries from The Cradle of Humankind have fuelled the imagination of the public and scientists alike. Each fossil bone holds stories waiting to be told that provide a glimpse into the lives of these mystifying creatures.
The reality is that we may never know what they look like with absolute certainty or exactly how they lived but scientific research, combined with artistic and thoughtful imagination, brings us a step closer to coming face to face with them.
“In our quest to understand our ancient ancestors, we can measure their bones, reconstruct the environments they lived in and study any artifacts they left behind. But for many people, this is not enough. For many, the ultimate way of ‘knowing’ someone is to see their face.”- John Gurche, artist
From skull and skeleton to face and body, the exhibition explores and brings us face to face with these relatives of all of humankind through reconstructions by scientists and artists. The exhibition presents the opportunity, for the very first time in South Africa, to compare face to face the bust reconstructions of Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi by world renowned palaeoartist John Gurche.
“We are extremely proud to launch this exhibit at Maropeng. Following a difficult time for the heritage and tourism sectors, this new offering will contribute toward our recovery. This exhibit was designed with the purpose of showcasing the science that follows discoveries but more importantly to allow us to connect with our past.”- Kimberleigh Tommy, Curator of Maropeng and Sterkfontein Official Visitor Centres.
The exhibit will open to the public on Friday 7 October 2022 at Maropeng.
Get your tickets today! Entrance to the exhibition is included in the normal Maropeng ticket price (R100).
Tickets can be booked online at Webtickets and card payment is available on site.
