A recent study shows that an ancient cave-dweller’s skull is much older than what

scientists originally thought.

Australopithecus africanus was discovered near Johannesburg in the Sterkfontein cave

network in 1936. People used to think Australopithecus africanus were under 2.6 million

years old. Now, a new study of Ms. Ples, the most complete skull shows they might be 1

million years older than originally estimated. The finding was published last week in the

journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Researchers said scientists previously underestimated Mrs Ples’s age because they

tested mineral deposits that were more recent than the rest of the sediment around her.