PRESS RELEASE – Christopher Henshilwood – 19 December 24
Mother Africa – Welcome Home
Still Bay, South Africa – The Blombos Museum of Archaeology proudly opened its doors today to the highly anticipated exhibition, Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour. The event marks a significant milestone in the study and celebration of early human prehistory, highlighting discoveries that shed light on the lives of Homo sapiens in the southern Cape between 120,000 and 50,000 years ago.
The exhibition is the result of over 30 years of meticulous research conducted by leading archaeologists, including Professor Christopher Henshilwood, Professor Sarah Wurz, Dr Karen van Niekerk and our research teams. Their investigations at renowned sites such as Blombos Cave, Klasies River, and Klipdrift Shelter have unearthed extraordinary artefacts and evidence of the behaviours and lifestyles of early modern humans. The exhibition’s immersive multimedia presentations include films by Academy Award-winner Craig Foster, filmmaker Damon Foster, and Åshild Sunde Feyling Thorsen of the University Museum of Bergen.
Curated by Craig Foster and archaeologist Petro Keene, the exhibition features a unique blend of artefacts, visual displays, and interactive elements, offering visitors an engaging and educational experience. According to Professor Henshilwood, “This exhibition showcases the archaeological heritage and rich marine environment of the Southern Cape coastline, offering insights into the cultural significance of these prehistoric sites.”
The opening ceremony was led by Jacqui Kromberg, Chair of the Blombos Museum control board, who welcomed a distinguished audience that included the Deputy Mayor of Still Bay, Tinus van den Berg, along with key contributors and supporters. Kromberg described the exhibition as a culmination of years of collaboration, research, and dedication by scientists, curators, and the local community.
Special thanks were extended to the funders, including the National Research Foundation, University of the Witwatersrand, Norwegian Research Council, Centre for Early Sapiens Behaviour at the University of Bergen, Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve, and Hessequa Municipality. Local families and anonymous donors also contributed significantly to the project.
Professor Henshilwood, the keynote speaker, provided an insightful overview of the exhibition, emphasising the importance of the discoveries in understanding the origins of human behaviour. The ceremony also included remarks by Linda Fletcher, Sustainability Manager at the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve, and Petro Keene, who received recognition for her tireless efforts in designing and constructing the exhibition. The event concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Professor Henshilwood, Deputy Mayor van den Berg, and Jacqui Kromberg, symbolising the official opening of the exhibition to the public.
The Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour exhibition is now open at the Blombos Museum of Archaeology in Still Bay. It invites visitors to explore the extraordinary journey of our early ancestors and the remarkable discoveries that have shaped our understanding of human prehistory.
