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Excavation starts at Blombos Cave
Blombos Cave is an archaeological site located in Blombosfontein Nature Reserve, about 300 km east of Cape Town on the Southern Cape coastline, South Africa. The cave contains Middle Stone Age deposits currently dated at between c. 100,000 and 70,000 years before present (BP), and a Late Stone Age sequence dated at between 2000 and 300 years BP. http://www.uib.no/en/news/95420/humans-evolved-sharing-technology-and-culture -
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Ten Field Seasons at Blombos Cave
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Discovery Of Blombos Ochre
The ochre is argued to be the oldest geometric representation of any kind yet found scratched into a durable material – a symbolic expression in material form, hard evidence for the marker’s ability to think metaphysically, therefore possibly to have language and even culture. http://www.christopherseddon.com/2014/05/the-engraved-ochres-of-blombos-cave.html -
Article in Cape Argus: "World stunned as Cape cave delivers big find on early man"
"Complex abstract representations engraved on 2 pieces of red ohcre at Blombos Cave near Stilbaai" - John Yeld -
Article in Cape Argus: "Man's earliest ideas are written on ohcre"
"One of the keys to complex, abstract thought is the use of symbols, including geometric shapes. Findings support the theory that modern human behaviour emerged in Africa atleast 35 000 years before the Upper Paleolithic Era in Eurasia" - John Yeld -
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Discovery Of Ochre Processing Kit
In 2008 at Blombos cave, excavations revealed a processing workshop where a liquefied ochre-rich mixture was produced and stored in two Haliotis Middae (abalone) shells 100 000 years ago. Ochre, bone, charcoal, grindstones, and hammer stones form composite part of this production kit. http://science.sciencemag.org/content/334/6053/219 -
Discovery of Nassarius Kraussianus Shell Beads
39 marine shell beads were also found in the Blombos cave in the Middle Stone Age levels. These beads were made by piercing Nassarius Krausianus ‘tick’ shells and then stringing them, probably for the use as personal ornaments.
http://www.world-archaeology.com/more/shell-beads-from-blombos-cave-south-africa.htm -
Article written about Incised Ochre from Blombos
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Blombos Ochre Kit is put on Display at the South African Museum
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Declared a Heritage Site
The Blombos Cave is an especially important site, as it contains archaeological evidence from the Middle Stone Age and bears testimony to a cultural tradition which has now disappeared. https://www.westerncape.gov.za/general-publication/heritage-sites-nominated-world-heritage-site-status -
Blombos Cave Vandalised
During a routine check last Saturday Karen Van Niekerk and I discovered that Blombos Cave had been enterered by a vandal (or vandals) by breaking and cutting a protective geotex panel and then climbing into the cave through the opening. On entering the cave the person caused two sections to collapse and on attempting to exit via the same route caused the collapse of a third section. The vandal also rifled through our excavation boxes. http://theheritageportal.co.za/notice/blombos-cave-vandalised -
Nassarius Shell Beads goes to the British Museum
"South Africa: the art of a nation" exhibition - "See the history of a nation from a new perspective and celebrate the diverse art created by the many people who have helped shape South Africa’s story." https://www.britishmuseum.org/PDF/SouthAfrica-ProtectionfromSeizure.pdf http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/south_africa.aspx
