The North-West region of South Africa (and neighbouring Gauteng) have produced some of the world’s most significant paleontological finds. Found in a limestone quarry, in 1924, the Taung Child was the first hominid to be discovered in Africa and led to the exposure as a hoax of Britain’s Piltdown Man. The Taung skull belonged to a three-year-old child. Debate continues to rage as to how he died. Possibly a leopard? Possibly a large bird of prey? Possibly another Australopithicus Africanus? What is certain though, is that the child died a very, very long time ago. Probably about 2.5 million years.