Robyn Pickering – The Conversation

The fossil skull that became known as the Taung Child introduced the world to a new hominin species 100 years ago. HERI

February 7, 2025

The fossil skull that rocked the world – 100 years later scientists are grappling with the Taung find’s complex colonial legacy

Rebecca Ackermann, University of Cape Town; Lauren Schroeder, University of Toronto, and Robyn Pickering, University of Cape Town

The history of human origins research is intimately intertwined with the prevalent socio-political landscape.

Los fósiles con el tubo de fibra de carbono en el que se guardaron en el vuelo espacial. Wits University

September 25, 2023

Envían al espacio fósiles de homínidos y los científicos están enfurecidos

Dipuo Winnie Kgotleng, University of Johannesburg and Robyn Pickering, University of Cape Town

Hace unos días, un vuelo comercial de Virgin Galactic partió con dos fósiles de antiguos parientes prehumamos. Los expertos, indignados, insisten en que no hay razón científica para enviar fósiles humanos al espacio.

The fossils with the carbon fibre tube they were kept in on the space flight. Wits University

September 27, 2023

South African hominin fossils were sent into space and scientists are enraged

Dipuo Winnie Kgotleng, University of Johannesburg and Robyn Pickering, University of Cape Town

Experts insist there is no scientific reason for allowing these fossils to travel to space.

Ga-Mohana Hill in South Africa’s Northern Cape province. Benjamin Schoville

March 31, 2021

Ancient southern Kalahari was more important to human evolution than previously thought

Benjamin Schoville, The University of Queensland; Jessica von der Meden, University of Cape Town; Robyn Pickering, University of Cape Town, and Wendy Khumalo, University of Cape Town

People were drawn to Ga-Mohana for many reasons. Surface water was likely among them.

Beautifully preserved flowstone and sediment layers from the Cradle of Humankind. Dr Robyn Pickering

November 21, 2018

How we calculated the age of caves in the Cradle of Humankind – and why it matters

Robyn Pickering, University of Cape Town

South Africa’s fossils can step out of the shadows of being undated and undateable.

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