South Africa has a new UNESCO World Heritage site of "outstanding universal value." The new UNESCO site is a collection of locations called: "The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa."
The EMHB sites include Sibhudu Cave, Diepkloof Rock Shelter, and the Pinnacle Point Site Complex. They have been recognized for their exceptional preservation and significance in providing crucial evidence for the development of modern human cognitive abilities, technological innovations, and behavioral adaptations during the Middle Stone Age in southern Africa.
Images left to right: Still Bay bifacial points from Diepkloof Rock Shelter Author- Pierre-Jean Texier Copyright© Pierre-Jean Texier, Outside view from inside Cave 13B Author- Mariagrazia Galimberti Copyright©Western Cape Dept of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ostrich Engraved ostrich eggshell from Frank layer dated between about 80 000 and 70 000 years ago Author- Pierre-Jean Texier Copyright© Pierre-Jean Texier Source- Nomination File
Facts About the South Africa UNESCO Sites:
Sibhudu Cave
Sibhudu Cave contains some of the earliest examples of modern human technology. The artifacts founds here have provided insights into early human behavior and cognitive abilities. Facts about Sibhudu Cave:
Sibhudu was occupied from about 77,000 to 38,000 years ago
It is located in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa
SIbhudu has yielded some of the earliest evidence of modern human technology, including:
61,000-year-old bone arrow
64,000-year-old stone arrows
61,000-year-old needle
Evidence of heat-treated adhesives from 71,000 years ago
Plant bedding from 77,000 years ago
Diepkloof Rock Shelter
Diepkloof Rock Shelter has yielded some of the earliest evidence of the human use of symbols. The Shelter is part of the Artists’ Journey of Cradle of Human Culture. Facts about Diepkloof Rock Shelter:
Diepkloof is located near Elands Bay in the Western Cape province
It was occupied during the Middle Stone Age, from about 130,000 to 45,000 years ago
·Ostrich eggshell water containers found here contain some of the first symbolic patterns every found. The patterns were etched on the ostrich eggshells with patterns consisting of lines crossed at right angles or oblique angles by hatching. It has been suggested that the patterns are "a system of symbolic representation in which collective identities and individual expressions are clearly communicated, suggesting social, cultural, and cognitive underpinnings that overlap with those of modern people."
These artifacts date to around 60,000 years ago
Pinnacle Point Site Complex
Pinnacle Point Site Complex consists of a series of coastal cave sites. The caves have been occupied intermittently from about 170,000 to 40,000 years ago. They are part of the Coastal Journey of the Cradle of Human Culture. Facts about the Pinnacle Point Site Complex:
It is located near Mossel Bay in the Western Cape province of South Africa
At one cave, symbols have been found as well as the earliest evidence for the use of marine (shellfish) resources. The use of the site is estimated to be from about 160,000 years ago.
Another cave contains the oldest evidence for the heat treatment of rock to make stone tools from 164,000 years ago. This cave also contains evidence of the use of ochre pigments from at least 164,000 years ago
Human remains dating back 100,000 years have also been found in a third cave.
The Cradle of Humankind UNESCO World Heritage Site
Another of South Africa’s important UNESCO sites is the fossil-rich Cradle of Humankind.
Located in South Africa's Gauteng province, this site is of immense paleontological significance. The Cradle encompasses a large area consisting of a complex system of limestone caves. These caves have yielded the world's largest concentration of human ancestral remains.
The site includes Sterkfontein Caves, where the 2.3-million-year-old Australopithecus africanus fossil "Mrs. Ples" was discovered. Another specimen called "Little Foot," which is the most completely preserved early hominin, was also found here.
Within the Cradle of Humankind is Kromdraai, where 1.8-million-year-old holotype for Paranthropus robustus was found. This species was believed to have both walked on two legs while also having the ability to climb and move in trees.
Most recently, the Rising Star Cave system yielded the fossils of Homo naledi, a previously unknown human relative.
Did you know that you can join a dig at the Cradle of Humankind? Work alongside the researchers and take part in the discoveries. Find out how to join the Cradle of Humankind dig in South Africa.
What It Takes to Become a World Heritage Site
Achieving UNESCO World Heritage status requires that sites demonstrate "outstanding universal value" and meet at least one of ten selection criteria. These criteria range from representing a masterpiece of human creative genius to containing superlative natural phenomena. There are over 1,200 UNESCO sites around the world.
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