Taung

Taung
Taung
Taung
Coordinates: 27°33′45″S 24°44′53″E / 27.56250°S 24.74806°E / -27.56250; 24.74806
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceNorth West
DistrictDr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati
MunicipalityGreater Taung
Area
  Total
20.75 km2 (8.01 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)
  Total
18,289
  Density880/km2 (2,300/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
  Black African98.8%
  Coloured0.4%
  Indian/Asian0.5%
  White0.1%
  Other0.2%
First languages (2011)
  Tswana89.6%
  Xhosa2.8%
  English1.5%
  Sotho1.1%
  Other5.0%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
8584
PO box
8584
Area code053
Official nameTaung Skull Fossil Site
Part ofFossil Hominid Sites of South Africa
CriteriaCultural: (iii)(vi)
Reference915bis-003
Inscription1999 (23rd Session)
Extensions2005
Area158.7429 ha (392.262 acres)
Buffer zone3,387 ha (8,370 acres)
Coordinates27°37′10″S 24°37′59″E / 27.61944°S 24.63306°E / -27.61944; 24.63306

Taung is a small town situated in the North West Province of South Africa. The name means place of the lion and was named after Tau, the King of the Barolong people. Tau is the Tswana word for lion.