# University of Cape Town researchers have named a newly identified type of fossilised termite nest after the Little Karoo town of Calitzdorp, where the structures were discovered. Eight remarkably preserved examples, dating back almost 400-thousand years, were found at one site. Each nest is about a metre deep and contains an intricate network of chambers and tunnels. The unusual pipe-like structures were initially mistaken for ovens used by early human inhabitants. Researchers say the fossils offer a rare glimpse into the behaviour of ancient termites and the environment they lived in.
UCT names ancient termite nests after Calitzdorp