Cradle of Life: The Story of the Magaliesberg and the Cradle of Humankind

Vincent Carruthers

Agu 2019 · Penguin Random House South Africa

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The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site situated in the heart of the Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve is the jewel in South Africa’s evolutionary crown: an area ‘of outstanding universal value’, it has attracted world-wide interest and furnished key evidence about where, when and how we came to be. The greater Magaliesberg area is peppered with some 200 caves and has a unique geology, history and biodiversity. For decades now, specialists have been combing the area to uncover evidence of our heritage. In his spectacular new title, Vincent Carruthers guides readers along a timeline, from the birth of our planet through to developments of the twenty first century. Along the way he documents the formation of our landscapes and the emergence of life, the rise of hominins, the stone and iron ages, early settlement, migrations, wars and modern developments in the Magaliesberg – the entire evolution of life up to the present, as we know it. Vividly illustrated with photographs, maps and diagrams, Cradle of Life portrays the intrigue and importance of the site, taking readers on a magical journey of discovery. Sales points: Authoritative handling of a complex topic; lavishly illustrated with colourful photos and diagrams; chronological detailing of key events from the beginning of time up to the modern age; accessible and appealing to a wide range of users, from visitors to students, enthusiasts and academics

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Vincent Carruthers has spent his entire adult life living and working in the Magaliesberg. He led the campaign to have the region proclaimed a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2015 and worked with the teams that nominated the World Heritage Site. An award-winning, influential environmentalist, he has written and contributed to a wide range of publications, among them The Magaliesberg, Wildlife of Southern Africa, and A Complete Guide to the Frogs of Southern Africa (with Louis du Preez).