In South Africa, found a cache of a collector who lived 105 thousand years ago
Artifacts were found in a stone cave in the Kalahari.
This hideout is located on the Ga-Mohana Hill near the city of Kuruman. Many residents of nearby towns consider Ga-Mohana a spiritual place associated with stories of a large water serpent. Some members of the community use this place for prayers and rituals.
Now, new finds have not only expanded the list of interesting facts about South Africa, but also showed how important this place was even 105,000 years ago. “We know that our species, Homo sapiens, first appeared in Africa. Evidence of the sophisticated behavior that characterizes us has mainly been found in coastal areas in South Africa, supporting the idea that our origins were associated with coastal resources. Now this view needs to be improved, ”said one of the authors of the work, Jane Wilkins, Research Fellow at ARC DECRA, at Griffith University in Australia.
Scientists have discovered 22 regular-shaped white calcite crystals. The age of the find was determined using a method called “optically stimulated luminescence.” He dates the deposits from which the crystals were excavated. “Our analysis shows that the crystals did not enter the deposits as a result of natural processes, but are a small cache of deliberately collected objects,” – said Jane Wilkins.
Crystals have been associated with people’s spiritual beliefs and rituals. People living in coastal areas began collecting shells around the same time, but not earlier, perhaps for similar reasons.
Based on materials from “Novoye Vremya”
