Mrs Ples
Australopithecus africanus
Estimated age
2.04-2.15 million years
Discovery location
Sterkfontein Caves
Discovered by
Robert Broom and John T. Robinson (1947)
Significance
Mrs Ples (STS 5) is one of the most complete Australopithecus africanus skulls ever discovered, becoming an icon of South African palaeoanthropology.
Scientific interpretation
Originally classified as Plesianthropus transvaalensis by Robert Broom, later reclassified as Australopithecus africanus. Recent studies suggest the specimen may actually be male.
Archaeological evidence
Recovered from the breccia of Sterkfontein and reconstructed from cranial fragments.
Related publications
- Broom, R. (1947). Discovery of a new skull of the South African ape-man, Plesianthropus. Nature.
- Thackeray, J.F. et al. (2002). Morphometric analyses of the STS 5 (“Mrs Ples”) cranium.
Interactive 3D model
[3D model slot — embed via Elementor once licensing is confirmed]