DISCOVERY OF NEW ARTIFACTS AT KROMDRAAI

The first good assemblage of artefacts from Kromdraai has been excavat ed in a new programme of systematic exploration allowing for a more co mplete assessment of the site as a whole. Began in 1993 by J.F.T., the new excavation has resulted in a sizeable assemblage of artefacts fro m the 'faunal site', Kromdraai A. Kromdraai now joins Sterkfontein and Swartkrans as the newest of only three well-documented Plio-Pleistoce ne sites in southern Africa with early artefact assemblages associated with fauna and in reliable context. Kromdraai A and B are biochronolo gically dated to between 1 and 2 million years ago. Comparisons with o ther Sterkfontein valley assemblages suggest that the KA sample may be long to an Early Acheulean/Developed Oldowan industry, although a late r industry cannot be ruled out.