mm long segment of a patent suture that exhibits a white-gray discoloration, suggestive of burning. –the well-known frontal fragment was described and illustrated by Singer and Wymer, and by Rightmire and Deacon, all of whom stressed its morphological modernity that presented stone tool cut-marks crossing its squamous surface. –A nearly complete right fifth metatarsal. The shaft is intact, but the ends are weathered. Rightmire have suggested that the end might have been gnawed upon. –a complete left second metatarsal that in several regions, the cortex is blackened, and the specimen gives the appearance of having been burned. –edentulous symphysis and left corpus of a mandible. The specimen was blackened, possibly charred and its cracked appearance suggested firing. These types of evidence cannot confirm with certainty that cannibalistic practices were being carried out at the site, but the coexistence of human and animal fragments and the high percentage of fragments from specious body parts (tending to be skull, metatarsals, lumbar sections, and forearm) tend to suggest that it is not coincidental. Discovery and excavation The artifacts and bones were originally reported by Paul Haslem and Ludwig Abel, then in 1960 Ray Inskeep and Ronald Singer identified the artifacts as Middle Stone Age. In 1967 and 1968 Ronald Singer and John Wymer started extensive excavations, with their initial findings published in 1972 by the University of Chicago Press. Since 1984 research has been continued by Hilary Deacon. The site is now protected by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), and the Department of Environment Affairs and Tourism. Locations The five caves are dotted eastwards along the coast within 2 kilometres of Klasies River mouth, and the complete stretch to Druipkelder Point is designated as a National heritage site. (Locations – best viewed in Google Earth) Klasies River Mouth at Klasies Main Site, Caves 1 & 2, at Klasies Caves 3 & 4 at Klasies Cave 5 at See also Boomplaas Cave Jebel Irhoud – possibly the earliest known fossils of Homo sapiens, dated to circa 300,000 years ago. Omo remains – fossils of Homo sapiens, dated to circa 190,000 years ago. Herto remains – an extinct subspecies of Homo sapiens, dated to circa 160,000 years ago. General: List of fossil sites (with link directory) List of hominina (hominid) fossils (with images) List of archaeological periods List of caves in South Africa Keurboomstrand, Western Cape References Citations Sources External links Unesco World