Robert Broom

South African paleontologist

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June 22, 2026

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Robert Broom was a South African paleontologist who made significant contributions to the understanding of human evolution. He is best known for his work at the Sterkfontein site in South Africa, where he collected numerous fossils of early hominins, including those of Australopithecus africanus.12

Broom's discoveries at Sterkfontein, beginning in 1936, provided crucial evidence for early human ancestors. Among his finds was the skull known as "Mrs. Ples," which, despite initial classification as a new genus, is now recognized as A. africanus. These fossils, dating back millions of years, have helped reveal that these early hominins walked upright but retained ape-like features, possessing small brains and humanlike teeth adapted for chewing. Sterkfontein remains one of the most important sites for studying human evolution, having yielded over 500 fossils.12

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Australopithecus
Australopithecus africanus
Robert Broom and his team collected hundreds of specimens beginning in 1936. At first Broom simply bought fossils, but in 1946 he began excavating, aided by a crew of skillful workers. Excavation continues to this day. Sterkfontein is one of the richest sources of information…
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Robert Broom and his team collected hundreds of specimens beginning in 1936. At first Broom simply bought fossils, but in 1946 he began excavating, aided by a crew of skillful workers. Excavation continues to this day. Sterkfontein is one of the richest sources of information…
Read More

Sterkfontein
In 1936 Robert Broom of the Transvaal Museum in Pretoria began collecting fossils from the miners. This led to the first discovery of an adult Australopithecus africanus, an early hominin originally described in 1925 from Taung, another South African site. At first Broom ascribed his fossils to…
Read More
In 1936 Robert Broom of the Transvaal Museum in Pretoria began collecting fossils from the miners. This led to the first discovery of an adult Australopithecus africanus, an early hominin originally described in 1925 from Taung, another South African site. At first Broom ascribed his fossils to…
Read More