Cradle of human culture on our doorstep

Cradle of human culture on our doorstep

By Dr Anina Lee

By Dr Anina Lee How do we define modern humans? How do they differ from early hominids and, for that matter, from animals like chimpanzees? Experts use three criteria to describe human behaviour: cognitive capacity (the ability to think about the world); planning capacity (ability to understand steps needed to achieve a goal); and the use of symbolism to convey meaning.

Until recently it was believed that truly modern human behaviour started in Europe and Asia – 40 000 to 50 000 years ago.

Since the year 2000 discoveries from Blombos Cave near Stilbaai turned that notion around. They found evidence of modern human behaviour from 65 000 to 100 000 years ago – i.e. 50 000 years before Europe.

Then came further discoveries at Pinnacle Point. A series of coastal caves here on the Southern Cape coast near Mossel Bay contain archaeological artefacts and other physical evidence critically important to understanding how and when fully modern humans evolved.

Several of these caves were occupied by Stone Age people and house the earliest evidence for modern human behaviour dating back to 163 000 years ago. Scientists now believe that these findings are the earliest evidence that humans had developed the intellectual capacity that characterises modern people.

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