The Taung Child is one of the most significant human evolution discoveries, which established Africa as a permanent focal point for the study of our origins.
The Taung Child is a fossilised skull of a young child that was discovered in Taung, South Africa. The discovery was formally shared with the international research community on 7 February 1925.
This online exhibition commemorates the 100-year anniversary of this ground-breaking discovery. It includes resources and background on the history and significance of the Taung Child and describes the scientific and community impact of its discovery.
The aim is to provide a powerful reminder that humanity’s origins lie in Africa, emphasising the need to centre African voices in science, and honour the continent’s place in our shared evolutionary history.
truly ancient early human fossil
The Taung Child is the first discovered fossil of Australopithecus africanus. It was excavated in 1924 by quarrymen working for the Northern Lime Company in Taung, South Africa.
Raymond Dart, an Australian-born South African paleoanthropologist at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, recognised the fossil as an early hominin, or member of the human lineage. Dart published a description of the Taung Child and coined the species A. africanus on 7 February 1925.
The fossil is believed to date back 2.8 million years, and consists of the fossilised skull and lower jaw of a young A. africanus. This species showcased a combination of ape-like and human-like traits, including a small ape-sized brain but a human-like way of walking.
The Taung Child was the first truly ancient early human fossil found in Africa - preceded only by the Kabwe skull in 1921, which is chronologically much younger and belongs to today’s human genus, Homo.
human origins in africa
The Taung Child is one of the most significant human evolution discoveries, which established Africa as a permanent focal point for the study of our origins.
decolonisation of the field
The Taung Child inspired generations of African scientists and institutions studying African fossils, contributing to decolonisation of the field.
Challenging Eurocentric views in science
Raymond Dart’s 1925 description and classification of the Taung Child as a human ancestor was initially rejected by much of the Western scientific community. This is because of a bias toward the idea of an ‘Asia-first’ origin for humans.
At the time, Africa was often seen through colonial stereotypes as ‘primitive’ or ‘backward’. This racist viewpoint influenced initial reluctance to accept Africa as the birthplace of humanity, despite the evidence presented by the Taung Child discovery.
The Taung Child helped challenge Eurocentric views in anthropology and palaeoanthropology by shifting focus to Africa as a significant site for human origins, paving the way for the understanding of Africa as the “Cradle of Humankind”.
The discovery laid the groundwork for the broader field of African palaeoanthropology, encouraging continued exploration that has led to further monumental discoveries, like Lucy in Ethiopia and the fossils at Olduvai Gorge, establishing Africa as a permanent focal point in the study of human evolution.
The significance of this discovery is inspiring a new generation of African scientists and institutions dedicated to studying and preserving African fossils and archaeology, contributing to decolonisation of the field.
RESOURCES RELATED TO THE TAUNG CHILD
The following resources are free to use and can be downloaded, printed and shared with learners:
Raymond Dart publication: Australopithecus africanus in Nature (1925).
Taung Child overview by the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
3d Digitization of Australopithecus africanus cranium by the Smithsonian Institution
Poster: 10 facts about he Taung Child by HERI
Australopithecus and Kin by Nature Education Knowledge
Lucy and the Taung Child: A Century of Science webinar by the Leakey Foundation
events to commemoratE the Taung Child
Online Webinar
Join the South African Palaeoanthropology community to commemorate 100 years since the Taung Child was discovered.
The free, online webinar is open to the public on Friday 7 February from 15.00-16.30 SAST. Register to join here
South African Journal of science (sajs) special issue
A special issue dedicated to research and reflections on 100 years of palaeoscience since the Taung Child fossil was discovered will be released by the SAJS in February. It was produced with support from HERI and the South African palaeoanthropology community.
The issue also features one-of-a-kind cover art submitted from an artist’s collective from Taung, and Setswana translations of all journal article abstracts. Learn more here.
Podcast series
A four-episode podcast taking a deep dive into the impact and legacy of the Taung Child will be released in mid-2025. Produced with support from HERI, the podcast will explore themes covered in the SAJS special issue, and what the future holds for uncovering answers about human evolution.
HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION
A special in-person event is planned for Heritage Month in September 2025. More details to come.
