UNESCO World Heritage SiteUNESCO Heritage
Cooper's Cave
South Africa

Cooper's Cave

Fossil-bearing breccia-filled dolomitic caves.

Location

Explore the Map

Historical Context

About

Cooper's Cave is an archaeologically significant site located in South Africa, renowned for its fossil-bearing breccia-filled cavities. Situated between the prominent hominid sites of Sterkfontein and Kromdraai, the cave is part of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. It offers a rich assemblage of early hominid stone tools from the Developed Olduwan culture, making it one of the richest sites for such tools in the area. The geological formation of the site consists of breccia-filled dolomitic caves, which have been dated to approximately 1.5 to 1.4 million years ago using uranium-lead methods. Cooper's Cave provides crucial insights into the early human tool-making activities and environmental adaptations during the Lower Paleolithic period.

Paleolithic
Mesolithic
Neolithic
Chalcolithic
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Classical Period
Post-Classical Period
Early Modern Period
Industrial Period
Contemporary Period
Visual Archive

Gallery

Explore photographs of ancient structures, artifacts, and archaeological excavations

FileCoopers_A.jpg
FileCoopers_D.jpg
FileCoopers_siv.jpg
+4 More
Temporal Epochs

Historical Timeline

Journey through time and discover key events in this site's history

Cooper's D Formation

1500 BCE

Cooper's A Formation

1400 BCE

Classification

Archaeological Features

Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site

category

Industrial and Craft Structures

Toolmakers’ Areas
category

Domestic and Habitation Structures

Caves
category

Environmental and Natural Features

Rock Shelters
Knowledge Base

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore

Plan Your Visit

Tours, travel arrangements, and practical information

Reference

Details

Country

South Africa

Coordinates

-26.01° N, 27.75° E