Early Human Behaviour

The SapienSC centre, which consists of an international research team with specialists in archaeology, psychology and climate, leads excavations at three locations in South Africa: Blombos Cave, Klipdrift and Klasies River. They have made several startling discoveries, including the world's oldest drawing discovered in Blombos Cave.

Visitors to the exhibition will gain insight into how archaeology, psychology and climatology are combined to create new understanding. The findings are examined in detail, layer by layer, site by site, in a way that has never been done before. Findings from several archaeological sites, including the Blombos Cave, suggest that there was a tipping point in early human development around 100,000 to 70,000 years ago.

The researchers have found a number of impressive finds in Blombos Cave, including the world's oldest drawing, engraved ocher stones, necklaces made from seashells and worked bone and stone tools. What makes these finds particularly fascinating is that they are very well preserved. The cave opening was not opened up again until around the year 2000, when the landscape had changed and made the cave opening visible again.

The discovery of the cave was made by Professor Christopher Henshilwood, who found it on the family's property. Several of these discoveries have been published in recognized scientific journals such as Nature and Science. The exhibition gives visitors a unique opportunity to explore fascinating discoveries and insights into the behavior of our early ancestors, see the world's oldest drawing and meet the team behind it all. With rare artefacts, interactive exhibits and multimedia installations, the exhibition on "Early Human Behaviour" provides a window into the world of our early human ancestors and the scientists who explore it.

Visitors will travel through time, from the emergence of Homo sapiens in Africa over 200,000 years ago to the present day, learning about the social systems, art, and technology developed by early human societies. The exhibition is a must for anyone interested in human development and origins.

"We are thrilled to be able to bring this incredible exhibit to the public. This is a unique opportunity to explore the fascinating history of our species and gain a deeper understanding of our evolution."

"This exhibition emphasizes the strong collaborative relationship that has developed between Norway and South Africa over the past 30 years. We are proud to present the fascinating research of our SapienCE researchers to a wider audience."
                                              Christopher Henshilwood, director of the Center for Early Sapiens Behavior (SapienCE)

The main curator for the exhibition is Åshild F. S. Thorsen has led the curatorial team who have interviewed SapienCE's leading archaeologists, climate scientists and psychologists to produce an exhibition that provides a comprehensive look at the origins of human behaviour, and explores key themes such as language development, tool production and social organisation.