Final answer:
South Africa's early hominid sites, including the Cradle of Humankind and the Blombos Cave, have contributed extensively to the study of early human evolution with discoveries of species like Homo naledi and Australopithecus, and artifacts demonstrating complex behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
South African Early Hominid Sites
The study of early hominids is a significant field in anthropology and several key discoveries have been made in South Africa. An important site is the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, where fossils of Homo naledi were found in the Rising Star cave system. Another notable location is the Blombos Cave, on the southern coast of South Africa, where engraved ochre and shell beads dating back 70,000 to 100,000 years were found. These artifacts demonstrate the complex cognitive behavior of early hominids.
Additionally, African caves have unveiled other species like Australopithecus afarensis, Australopithecus bahrelghazali, Australopithecus garhi, and Australopithecus africanus, all providing clues about early hominin evolution. The discovery of these species, particularly in regions like the Eastern Rift Valley, signifies the long-term presence of hominids in Africa. Prestigious anthropologists like Donald Johanson, and Richard and Mary Leakey, have made significant contributions to our understanding of these early hominids.