Blombos Cave

Archaeological site in South Africa

Blombos Cave is an archaeological site located in the Western Cape of South Africa, approximately 300 kilometers east of Cape Town. The cave is situated in a limestone cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean and has become a significant site for understanding the cognitive and cultural development of early modern humans during the Middle Stone Age.

Discovery and Excavation

Blombos Cave was first excavated in 1991 by a team led by Professor Christopher Henshilwood from the University of Bergen and the University of the Witwatersrand. The site has yielded a wealth of artifacts that have provided insights into the behavior and capabilities of early Homo sapiens.

Significant Findings

The cave is renowned for its well-preserved archaeological deposits dating back to between 100,000 and 70,000 years ago. Among the most notable discoveries are:

• Engraved Ochre: Pieces of ochre engraved with abstract designs, which are considered some of the earliest evidence of symbolic thought and artistic expression.
• Shell Beads: Perforated marine shell beads, indicating the use of personal ornaments and possibly the development of symbolic communication.
• Bone Tools: A variety of bone tools, including awls and points, suggesting advanced tool-making techniques.
• Stone Tools: A collection of bifacial points and blades made from silcrete, showcasing sophisticated lithic technology.

Cultural and Cognitive Implications

The findings at Blombos Cave have significant implications for understanding the cognitive and cultural evolution of early humans. The presence of symbolic artifacts suggests that the inhabitants of the cave engaged in complex social behaviors and had the capacity for abstract thought. This challenges previous assumptions about the timeline of human cognitive development and the emergence of modern behavior.

Conservation and Research

Blombos Cave is a protected site, and ongoing research continues to uncover new information about the lives of its ancient inhabitants. The site is not open to the public to preserve its integrity, but findings from the cave are displayed in various museums and are the subject of numerous academic publications.

Also see

• Middle Stone Age
• Homo sapiens
• Symbolic thought
• Archaeology of South Africa
• Cognitive archaeology