Wonderwerk Cave and early evidence for the controlled use of fire

[Origins Centre]

Although it is probable that man used fire over a million years ago,
the most secure evidence for its controlled use comes from Wonderwerk
Cave in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.

A multinational team of researchers recently combined their efforts
and, using several lines of evidence as well as new techniques, proved
this point. A member of the team was Prof Marion Bamford, a
palaeobotanist at the Bernard Price Institute at Wits University.
Prof Bamford will deliver a talk at Origins Centre on Tuesday May 29,
examining discoveries at the Wonderwerk Cave.

The cave has been occupied by hominids for the last 2 million years or
so. It is an isolated site in the Kuruman hills with several metres of
accumulated sediments containing bones, stone artifacts, charcoal and
pollen. Extensive archaeological excavations and collections were made
by Peter Beaumont of the McGregor Museum in Kimberley from the 1970s
to the 1990s. Since 2004 a team has renewed excavations, using modern
dating and analytical methods and making the world aware of the
significance of the cave.

A brief history of other examples of the early use of fire will also
be given.

Date: Tuesday 29 May 2012
Venue: Origins Centre
Time: 18h00 for 18h30
Cost: R45/R35 Wits students and Wits staff
Bookings: a...@origins.org.za

Please e-mail your request for seats to a...@origins.org.za. If you are
a Wits student or Wits staff member, please include your student/staff
number. We will then e-mail an invoice to you, which can be paid by
eft or at the Origins Centre reception desk.