South African Archaeology Sites
South Africa has some of the most ancient sites of human kind, and by some accounts was the cradle of humanity. Here's a few of the important archaeological sites found in the modern country of South Africa.
Lydenburg (South Africa)
Early Iron Age site (5th century AD) in the Transvaal region of South Africa.
Early Iron Age site (5th century AD) in the Transvaal region of South Africa.
Blombos Cave
Blombos Cave is a Middle Stone Age (MSA) site located in the southern Cape, South Africa, that contains excellently preserved MSA deposits that date to older than 70,000 years.
Blombos Cave is a Middle Stone Age (MSA) site located in the southern Cape, South Africa, that contains excellently preserved MSA deposits that date to older than 70,000 years.
Boomplaas Cave (South Africa)
Boomplaas Cave (Tree Farm Cave) is located in the Swartberg Range of South Africa, near the southern most tip of the continent.
Boomplaas Cave (Tree Farm Cave) is located in the Swartberg Range of South Africa, near the southern most tip of the continent.
Border Cave
Border Cave is a rockshelter in the Lembombo Mountains between South Africa and Swaziland, in Kwazulu Natal of South Africa.
Border Cave is a rockshelter in the Lembombo Mountains between South Africa and Swaziland, in Kwazulu Natal of South Africa.
Cave of Hearths
The Cave of Hearths is an Earlier Stone Age site in the Makapan Valley of South Africa. This page from the University of Southampton describes excavations there and features a database on handaxes from the site with pictures and measurements.
The Cave of Hearths is an Earlier Stone Age site in the Makapan Valley of South Africa. This page from the University of Southampton describes excavations there and features a database on handaxes from the site with pictures and measurements.
Cobern Street
Excavations at an Unmarked Burial Ground in Cape Town, an article by Heather Apollonio in the African-American Archaeology Newsletter.
Excavations at an Unmarked Burial Ground in Cape Town, an article by Heather Apollonio in the African-American Archaeology Newsletter.
Die Kelders Cave I
A site description of the famous Middle Stone age rockshelter, including an indepth discussion of the excavations and results over the years. From the South African Museum.
A site description of the famous Middle Stone age rockshelter, including an indepth discussion of the excavations and results over the years. From the South African Museum.
Geelbek Dunes
From the Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte und Archäologie des Mittelalters, Abteilung Ältere Urgeschichte und Quartärökologie, Tübingen, archaeological survey identified several Middle and Late Stone Age sites. English and German.
From the Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte und Archäologie des Mittelalters, Abteilung Ältere Urgeschichte und Quartärökologie, Tübingen, archaeological survey identified several Middle and Late Stone Age sites. English and German.
Genadendal
From the Mission Museum, a description of the history of this site occupied by Khoi ancestors beginning 2000 years ago up through interaction with the Dutch East India company; and the Moravian mission built there in the 18th century AD.
From the Mission Museum, a description of the history of this site occupied by Khoi ancestors beginning 2000 years ago up through interaction with the Dutch East India company; and the Moravian mission built there in the 18th century AD.
Holley Shelter
Middle Stone Age rockshelter in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, currently under excavation by Molly Clark of West Virginia Wesleyan College.
Middle Stone Age rockshelter in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, currently under excavation by Molly Clark of West Virginia Wesleyan College.
Klasies River Caves
What does it mean to be human? Archaeological excavations at one of the earliest Homo sapiens site on the planet, the Klasies River Caves site in South Africa, teach us about our ancestors.
What does it mean to be human? Archaeological excavations at one of the earliest Homo sapiens site on the planet, the Klasies River Caves site in South Africa, teach us about our ancestors.
Makapansgat
Makapansgat is a series of veryy ancient archaeological sites in the Makapansgat valley of South Africa, with evidence for Australopithecus
Makapansgat is a series of veryy ancient archaeological sites in the Makapansgat valley of South Africa, with evidence for Australopithecus
Mapungubwe
Stone age and Iron Age occupations in the valley of the Limpopo River, from Mapungubwe.com.
Stone age and Iron Age occupations in the valley of the Limpopo River, from Mapungubwe.com.
Phalaborwa
The archaeological complex of Phalaborwa consists of a series of iron and copper mining sites dated the early parts of the second millennium AD.
The archaeological complex of Phalaborwa consists of a series of iron and copper mining sites dated the early parts of the second millennium AD.
Pinnacle Point [PP13B] (South Africa)
PP13B is the scientific designation for a sea cave in the coastal cliffs at Pinnacle Point near Mossel Bay, South Africa.
PP13B is the scientific designation for a sea cave in the coastal cliffs at Pinnacle Point near Mossel Bay, South Africa.
Pniel 6 (Northern Cape)
Excavations by the University of Southampton at this Middle Stone Age Fauresmith Site.
Excavations by the University of Southampton at this Middle Stone Age Fauresmith Site.
Rose Cottage Cave (South Africa)
Rose Cottage is a Middle Paleolithic (Howiesons Poort) cave site located in the eastern Free State of South Africa.
Rose Cottage is a Middle Paleolithic (Howiesons Poort) cave site located in the eastern Free State of South Africa.
Sterkfontein
The ancient early man site of Sterkfontein is a cave in a dolomite hill of the Blaaubank River Valley, about 10 kilometers northwest of Krugersdorp, South Africa.
The ancient early man site of Sterkfontein is a cave in a dolomite hill of the Blaaubank River Valley, about 10 kilometers northwest of Krugersdorp, South Africa.
Swartkrans
Swartkrans is a Lower Paleolithic cave site in South Africa, discovered in 1948 by Robert Broom and excavated by C.K. Brain in the 1960s.
Swartkrans is a Lower Paleolithic cave site in South Africa, discovered in 1948 by Robert Broom and excavated by C.K. Brain in the 1960s.
Taung
The Taung site is a limestone quarry located in the Transvaal region of South Africa.
The Taung site is a limestone quarry located in the Transvaal region of South Africa.
Thulamela
Thulamela is an Iron Age site on South Africa's eastern coast, currently the focus of a study to move all of the records onto an online database. The website includes a three-dimensional model fly-over, very cool.
Thulamela is an Iron Age site on South Africa's eastern coast, currently the focus of a study to move all of the records onto an online database. The website includes a three-dimensional model fly-over, very cool.
Ysterfontein
Ysterfontein is a deeply stratified Middle Stone Age/Mousterian site on the Atlantic Ocean side of South Africa, some 70 kilometers north of Cape Town. This is an article on PNAS by Richard Klein and associates.
Ysterfontein is a deeply stratified Middle Stone Age/Mousterian site on the Atlantic Ocean side of South Africa, some 70 kilometers north of Cape Town. This is an article on PNAS by Richard Klein and associates.