A South African cave that was a key discovery in shaping scientific understanding of early human behavior has been designated a World Heritage Site.
Three new additions to the heritage list were finalized on July 26, including Diepkloof Rock Shelter, Sibhudu Cave and Pinnacle Point Site Complex. The latter has been extensively explored and documented by Arizona State University professor Curtis Marean, who was instrumental in pushing for UNESCO recognition.
When Marean first began work at Pinnacle Point in 1999, the cave at the base of the 164-foot-tall (50-meter) cliff off the Indian Ocean coast had yet to be excavated. The discovery of Marian records shows that, a smart man lived about 160,000 years ago, during an era known as the Quaternary Period, when humans were spreading across the African continent. Marian found evidence that these humans ate shellfish, modified and used pigments, and used fire to modify ingredients. The site also found the earliest signs of human use of advanced projectile weapons, dating back 71,000 years ago.
Ryan Williams, dean of Arizona State University’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change, said in a press release: “Pinnacle Point has proven to have important implications for the origins of our species, particularly our relationship with the ocean. Incredible insight.
UNESCO said on its website that the three sites in South Africa’s Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces are known for their “importance for understanding the origins of behaviorally modern humans, their cognitive abilities and culture, and the ways in which they have survived.” recognized for their contribution to climate change. website. Only sites deemed to be of “outstanding value to humanity” will be added to the list.
Pinnacle Point is also important because it contains clues about how early humans survived climate change, including the movement of giant ice sheets during the Quaternary Period and the 74,000-year-old supereruption of Mount Toba in modern-day Indonesia.
Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport Ricardo McKenzie said in a statement: “This important moment marks an important point in our collective journey to protect and celebrate the origins of modern human behavior and our shared cultural heritage. Milestone. “Amid the challenges of climate change and rising sea levels, the remarkable preservation of these sites is a testament to our ancestors’ resilience, creativity and ability to adapt to environmental changes. “
