Taphonomy is the study of regularities in the formation of fossil deposits. Investigating relevant processes and their effects in present-day situations has proved an effective strategy for clarifying initially ambiguous patterns in the pre-historic materials themselves. The methodinvolves observing the effects of various bone modifiers currently operant, and applying these findings to analysis of the fossil deposits from the australopithecine sites. Three African sites in the Sterkfontein Valley are discussed in detail: an exhaustive summary and description of fossil species recovered from each site, a history of activity at each site, a description of its stratigraphy, and a summary of finds by species and element. -- AATA