ACTIVITIES IN 2020 10 10
Elizabeth Velliky collecting ochre samples in the area around Blombos.
FIELDWORK The South African Animal Kingdom contains many animals that can be dangerous to humans. Snakes, scorpions and spiders are all encountered in the areas where we work. Before heading into the field in 2020, members of the excavation team attended a snake handling course in Cape Town. The course was both theoretical and practical, introducing us to species identification, behavior and habitat, before moving on to how different venoms work, how best to prevent dangerous encounters and what to do if bitten. We were then put to the test controlling, catching and securing live snakes for safe transport and re-release into the wild. Not only do snakes strike with lightning speed, but they can certainly move fast when they want to!
The excavation season at Blombos Cave was planned for 11 – 30 March 2020. Staff, Postdocs, PhDs and Master students from UiB and Wits were to participate in excavating the 100 – 72-thousand-year-old (ka) levels. We prepared the site for excavation, which entailed, amongst other things, the removal of large rocks that were hindering planned expansion of excavations and installation of a state-of-the-art solar powered lighting system. Our goal for the field season was to excavate four quadrants down to the 100 ka layers, allowing a more detailed analysis of this level, and preparing the way for excavation of deeper layers in subsequent seasons. Unfortunately, after three days of excavation, we had to pack up the site and return home due to the outbreak of Covid-19.
Wits MSc students Alexandra Pearson and Inèz Faul sorting comparative shell collection at Blombos.
