Pinnacle Point
The discoveries at Pinnacle Point have been made by an international team, headed by palaeoanthropologist Curtis Marean from the Institute of Human Origins of the Arizona State University as well as researchers from South Africa (UCT and Iziko South African Museum), Australia (Archaeology Program, La Trobe University, UoW), Israel, and France.After debating for decades, paleoanthropologists now agree there is enough genetic and fossil evidence to suggest that Homo sapiens evolved in Africa c. 200,000 – c. 160,000 years ago.This is similar to more complex ochre utilisation known from Blombos Cave slightly farther to the west at roughly 70,000 years ago.[5] These discoveries contradict the classical hypothesis that the modern behaviour emerged only 40,000 years ago and was reached through a "large cultural leap".[1] The harsh climate and reduced food resources may have been why people moved to the shore at Pinnacle Point, where they could eat marine creatures like shellfish, whale, and seal.
Mossel BayUNESCO World Heritage SiteSessionMiddle Stone AgeWorld Heritage SiteIziko South African MuseumpalaeoanthropologistCurtis MareanInstitute of Human OriginsArizona State UniversityHomo sapiensice agegeologic formationssea currentsclimatepigmentBlombos Cavemodern behaviourHeritage Western CapeWorld Heritage SitesSibudu CaveKlasies River CavesBorder CaveDiepkloof Rock ShelterHominid evolutionBibcodecave paintingsDrachenhöhleGudenusLurgrotteSalzofenTischoferNauletteNeolithic flint mines of SpiennesScladinaTrou de l'AbîmeBadanjLedenjačaBacho KiroDevetashkaKozarnikaMaguraUtroba CaveGrapčevaKrapinaVela SpilaVindijaRomuald's CaveVeternicaAetokremnosAmatérskáBýčí skálaKoněprusyKůlnaMladečŠipkaVézère Valley World Heritage SiteCap BlancReverditLes Eyzies-de-Tayac-SireuilLes CombarellesCro-MagnonFont-de-GaumeLaugerie-BasseLa MicoquePataudLascauxLa MadeleineRouffignacOther World Heritage SitesChauvetArcy-sur-CureGargasCosquerCussacFontéchevadeLa Chaire a CalvinLa MarcheLombrivesGrotte de GabillouMarsoulasLe Mas-d'AzilMayrières supérieurePair-non-PairPech MerleRoc-aux-SorciersTrois FrèresVillarsOther cavesAurignacBruniquelCalèsLa Chapelle-aux-SaintsCombe GrenalLa FerrassieFontbrégouaLazaretLe MoustierNoisetierLa QuinaRaymondenLe RegourdouRochereilVallonnetCaves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura World Heritage SiteBocksteinGeissenklösterleHohle FelsHohlenstein-StadelSirgensteinVogelherdBaumann'sBrillenhöhleKleine FeldhoferLichtensteinGibraltarDevil's TowerGorham'sVanguardAlepotrypaApidimaAsphendouEileithyiaFranchthiKleidiMegalakkos