The Origins of Early Sapiens Behaviour Exhibition is a showcase of a culmination of some 30 years of archaeological research in the southern Cape, undertaken by Professor Christopher Henshilwood, Dr Karen van Niekerk, Professor Sarah Wurz and their research teams at Blombos Cave, Klipdrift Shelter and Klasies River.  The exhibition has been curated by award-winning documentary filmmaker Craig Foster and Curator at the Institute for Human Evolution at University of the Witwatersrand, Petro Keene. The exhibition is designed to explore key aspects of archaeological research and is linked to the SapienCE/Wits research programme that focuses on early human origins and innovations in southern Africa.

The exhibition was first showcased late in 2018 at the Spier Wine Farm in Stellenbosch, near Cape Town. Since then it has been expanded and updated to include finds from the Klasies River site.

The Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town is proud to offer visitors  and learners to the Mother City the opportunity to add to their cultural exploration of South Africa through a world-class exhibition that educates us about our common past and allows us to see first-hand where and how all humans’ ancestors lived. 

Duration Dates: 18 Apr 2019 - 10 Apr 2020