Mother Africa – Welcome Home

Professor Henshilwood, director of the SapienCE Centre of Excellence, provided an insightful overview of the exhibition, emphasizing the importance of these discoveries in understanding the origins of human behavior. 

 “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,” he said in his keynote speech. 

Decades of Research 

The newly opened exhibition in Still Bay showcases groundbreaking discoveries that illuminate the lives of Homo sapiens in the southern Cape from 120,000 to 50,000 years ago. Visitors are invited to explore the results of over 30 years of meticulous research by leading archaeologists, including Professor Christopher Henshilwood, Professor Sarah Wurz, Dr. Karen van Niekerk, and their teams. Their investigations at renowned sites such as Blombos Cave, Klasies River, and Klipdrift Shelter have unearthed extraordinary artifacts and evidence of early modern human behaviors and lifestyles. 

Engaging and Educational Experience  

“The exhibition invites visitors to explore the extraordinary journey of our early ancestors and the remarkable discoveries that have shaped our understanding of human prehistory,” Henshilwood said. 

Curated by Craig Foster and archaeologist Petro Keene, the exhibition features a unique blend of artifacts, visual displays, and interactive elements, offering visitors an engaging and educational experience. It also includes immersive multimedia presentations with films by Academy Award-winner Craig Foster, filmmaker Damon Foster, and Åshild Sunde Feyling Thorsen of the University Museum of Bergen. 

A Collaborative Effort 

The opening ceremony, led by Jacqui Kromberg, Chair of the Blombos Museum control board, welcomed a distinguished audience, including 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. 

The event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Professor Henshilwood, Deputy Mayor van den Berg, and Jacqui Kromberg, symbolizing the official opening of the exhibition to the public. Remarks were also made 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. 

Acknowledging Support 

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. 

The exhibition, which has just been launched at the Blombos Museum of Archaeology, is the third exhibition in the Cape. All three are permanent exhibitions.