South Africa is a critical region during the Middle Pleistocene, some of the earliest dated occurances of near-anatomically modern and modern humans are to be found here. Also, some of the earliest manifestations of many typo-technological features characteristic of the European Middle Pleistocene and Upper Pleistocene, occur first in Southern Africa.
Also, some of the earliest manifestations of many typo-technological features characteristic of the European Middle Pleistocene and Upper Pleistocene, occur first in Southern Africa. As a result of the importance of this region the Centre for the Archaeology of Human Origins (CAHO) is currently developing long-term research interests in South Africa. Building on our relationships with the University of the Witwatersrand, Cape Town, and the McGregor Museum Kimberley, we aim to establish field research programmes which will provide opportunities for CAHO students, and postgraduates on the Palaeolithic masters programme, to become involved in Earlier, Middle and Later Stone Age research in South Africa. In the near future CAHO is initiating a research project, in conjunction with Peter Beaumont of the McGregor Museum, Kimberley, that will investigate the character of the Middle Pleistocene Earlier Stone Age occupation in selected locations in the Lower Vaal River Basin.
Principal investigator: Centre for the Archaeology of Human Origins