Klasies River Main Site

Klasies River

South Africa · Eastern Cape

CaveExcavation ongoing
Approximate periodMiddle and Later Stone Age See on the map ↓

In brief

The main site on the Tsitsikamma coast consists of two caves and three rock shelters. Archaeological deposits approximately 20 metres thick document early Homo sapiens communities' use of coastal resources and their ways of life.

What was found?

  • 1Homo sapiens fossils

    Excavations have uncovered numerous fossils of early modern humans. They allow human body structure to be investigated together with traces of life in the same layers.

  • 2Stone tools

    Stone tools have been found in different layers of the settlement. They are fundamental evidence for studying Middle Stone Age technology and changes over time.

  • 3Shell deposits

    There are dense deposits left by shellfish consumed as food. They document the role of coastal resources in human subsistence.

  • 4Animal bones

    Animal bones and other animal remains have been preserved in the layers. They help researchers investigate both human activities and the ancient environment.

What does it point to?

Klasies River is a site where early Homo sapiens communities gathered food along the coast and returned repeatedly. Its thick sequence of layers offers an opportunity to study human life alongside changing climate, sea level and environmental conditions.

What did it teach us?

  1. It documented early Homo sapiens fossils in the same archaeological record as stone tools and food remains.
  2. It showed that shellfish formed part of the diet of Middle Stone Age people.
  3. It revealed that repeated visits and environmental changes could be traced within a long sequence of layers.

Record

Culture
Middle Stone Age traditions, including Howiesons Poort
First modern dig
1967
Team / historical
Sarah Wurz; University of the Witwatersrand ve SapienCE
Coordinates
-34.1082°, 24.3905°

Sources

  1. www4.uib.no
  2. archaeology.org.za
  3. sciencedirect.com

Nearby excavations


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12.000

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