Mrs. Ples
Encyclopedia
Mrs. Ples is the popular nickname for the most complete skull of an Australopithecus africanus
specimen ever found in South Africa. Many fossils of this species, which are considered to be the distant relatives of all humankind, have been found in the Sterkfontein
area, in what has been designated the Cradle of Humankind
World Heritage Site
, which is situated approximately 70 kilometres southwest of Pretoria
. Mrs. Ples was discovered by Dr. Robert Broom
and John T. Robinson
on 18 April 1947. The catalog number for Mrs. Ples is STS 5.
The nickname Mrs. Ples was derived from the scientific designation Plesianthropus transvaalensis (near-man from the Transvaal
), initially given to the skull by Dr. Broom; the nickname itself was coined by young coworkers of Dr. Broom.
The sex of the skull is not completely certain and so Mrs. Ples may in fact be Mr. Ples. In addition, X-ray analysis of the roots of the teeth of Mrs. Ples has suggested that it was a sub-adult, so a designation of Miss
Ples or Master
Ples is also possible.
Some experts have suggested that a partial skeleton, known only by its catalogue number of STS 14
that was discovered in the same year, in the same geological deposit and in proximity to it, may belong to this skull. If correct, this would make Mrs. Ples the South African counterpart to the famous Lucy
fossil.
The fossil has been dated by a combination of palaeomagnetism and uranium-lead techniques to around 2.05 million years.
In 2004, Mrs. Ples was voted 95th in the SABC3's and e.tv's
Great South Africans Top 100 list.
Australopithecus africanus
Australopithecus africanus was an early hominid, an australopithecine, who lived between 2–3 million years ago in the Pliocene. In common with the older Australopithecus afarensis, A. africanus was slenderly built, or gracile, and was thought to have been a direct ancestor of modern humans. Fossil...
specimen ever found in South Africa. Many fossils of this species, which are considered to be the distant relatives of all humankind, have been found in the Sterkfontein
Sterkfontein
-References:-References:-References:: : : :...
area, in what has been designated the Cradle of Humankind
Cradle of Humankind
The Cradle of Humankind is a World Heritage Site first named by UNESCO in 1999, about 50 kilometres northwest of Johannesburg, South Africa in the Gauteng province. This site currently occupies ; it contains a complex of limestone caves, including the Sterkfontein Caves, where the 2.3-million...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
, which is situated approximately 70 kilometres southwest of Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
. Mrs. Ples was discovered by Dr. Robert Broom
Robert Broom
Professor Robert Broom was a Scottish South African doctor and paleontologist. He qualified as a medical practitioner in 1895 and received his DSc in 1905 from the University of Glasgow...
and John T. Robinson
John T. Robinson
John Talbot Robinson was a distinguished South African hominid paleontologist. His most famous discovery was the nearly complete Human evolution fossil skull of an Australopithecus africanus, known as Mrs. Ples.Robinson was born in Elliot, South Africa...
on 18 April 1947. The catalog number for Mrs. Ples is STS 5.
Transvaal Province
Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
), initially given to the skull by Dr. Broom; the nickname itself was coined by young coworkers of Dr. Broom.
The sex of the skull is not completely certain and so Mrs. Ples may in fact be Mr. Ples. In addition, X-ray analysis of the roots of the teeth of Mrs. Ples has suggested that it was a sub-adult, so a designation of Miss
Miss
Miss is an English language honorific traditionally used only for an unmarried woman . Originating in the 17th century, it is a contraction of mistress, which was used for all women. A period is not used to signify the contraction...
Ples or Master
Master (form of address)
Master is an archaic masculine title or form of address in English.- In English and Welsh society :Master was used in England for men of some rank, especially "free masters" of a trade guild and by any manual worker or servant employee to his employer , but also generally by those lower in status...
Ples is also possible.
Some experts have suggested that a partial skeleton, known only by its catalogue number of STS 14
STS 14
STS 14 is a fossilized pelvis, vertebral column and fragmentary rib and femur of the species Australopithecus africanus. It was discovered at Sterkfontein, South Africa by Robert Broom in August 1947.It is estimated to be 2.6-2.8 million years old....
that was discovered in the same year, in the same geological deposit and in proximity to it, may belong to this skull. If correct, this would make Mrs. Ples the South African counterpart to the famous Lucy
Lucy (Australopithecus)
Lucy is the common name of AL 288-1, several hundred pieces of bone representing about 40% of the skeleton of an individual Australopithecus afarensis. The specimen was discovered in 1974 at Hadar in the Awash Valley of Ethiopia's Afar Depression. Lucy is estimated to have lived 3.2 million years...
fossil.
The fossil has been dated by a combination of palaeomagnetism and uranium-lead techniques to around 2.05 million years.
In 2004, Mrs. Ples was voted 95th in the SABC3's and e.tv's
E.tv
e.tv is the fifth terrestrial television channel in South Africa, following three channels operated by the state-owned South African Broadcasting Corporation and the privately owned subscription-funded M-Net, operated by Multichoice...
Great South Africans Top 100 list.
See also
- List of human fossils
- List of hominina (hominid) fossils (with images)
- Taung ChildTaung ChildThe Taung Child — or Taung Baby — is the fossilized skull of a young Australopithecus africanus individual. It was discovered in 1924 by quarrymen working for the Northern Lime Company in Taung, South Africa...