The Emergence of Modern Human Behaviour: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa

Overview

This serial property contributes to the understanding of the origin of behaviourally modern humans, their cognitive abilities and cultures, and the climatic transitions that they survived. It is composed of three dispersed archaeological sites, Diepkloof Rock Shelter, Pinnacle Point Site Complex, and Sibhudu Cave, located in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa. These sites provide the most varied and best-preserved record known of the development of modern human behaviour, reaching back as far as 162,000 years. Symbolic thought and advanced technologies are exemplified by evidence of ochre processing, engraved patterns, decorative beads, decorated eggshells, advanced projectile weapons and techniques for toolmaking, and microliths.

Selection Criteria

(iii)(iv)(v)

Components(3 locations)

• •Sibhudu Cave1723-003
• •Diepkloof Rock Shelter1723-001
• •Pinnacle Point Site Complex1723-002

Details

Countries

South Africa

ISO Codes

ZA

Area

57.4 ha

Coordinates

-32.3864, 18.4525