The Origins of Early Sapiens Behaviour: Origins Centre, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

Yonatan Sahle

doi:10.15184/aqy.2021.182

Abstract

This exhibition showcases the results of archaeological research at three coastal sites in the southern Cape of South Africa: Blombos Cave, Klipdrift Shelter and Klasies River main sites. Part of a long-term programme aiming to make palaeosciences accessible to the public, the exhibition befittingly started more locally, first at Stellenbosch and then at the Iziko South African Museums in Cape Town, before moving to Johannesburg. The exhibition opened at the Origins Centre of the University of the Witwatersrand on 25 November 2021. To those of us who attended the opening, it provided an opportunity to hear from the archaeologists, curators and designers behind the exhibition. The exhibition opened to the public on 27 November.

Highlights

I visited the exhibition briefly on 25 November, and more thoroughly over the following days
* Human Evolution Research Institute, Department of Archaeology, University of Cape Town, South Africa (✉ yonatan.sahle@uct.ac.za). This exhibition showcases the results of archaeological research at three coastal sites in the southern Cape of South Africa: Blombos Cave, Klipdrift Shelter and Klasies River main sites
The main exhibition with displayed objects is installed in a room upstairs and contains around a dozen images beautifully illuminated by background lights (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

I visited the exhibition briefly on 25 November, and more thoroughly over the following days. The Origins of Early Sapiens Behaviour: Origins Centre, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg * Human Evolution Research Institute, Department of Archaeology, University of Cape Town, South Africa (✉ yonatan.sahle@uct.ac.za)

Results

Conclusion