The 47 000 hectare Sterkfontein World Heritage Site near Johannesburg has produced almost 30% of the world's hominin fossils. The 13 major fossil sites in the area tell us more about humanity's deep ancestry than almost anywhere else on earth. The Cradle of Humankind Field Guide details the significance of Sterkfontein and the other sites, provides an ancient and contemporary history of the area and contains a guide to the existing and extinct animal and plant species.

Brett Hilton-Barber and Lee Berger have compiled an easy to read, richly-illustrated and scientifically thorough book on the Sterkfontein area. South African president Thabo Mbeki writes in the foreword that "One of the strengths of this book is that the authors have made it accessible to the majority of our people...this underlines the importance of ensuring that all our people, especially children and the youth, , have access to this information and understand the true meaning and value of its message".

Hilton-Barber and Berger have embarked on a campaign to get the book into every South African high school.

A portion of the proceeds of the book will go to the Palaeoanthropological Scientific Trust (PAST) and to a Gauteng government nominated community development organization.

The Official Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind is avalaible through leading South African bookstores or can be ordered online at www.struik.co.za.