Pinnacle Point, Archaeological site near Mossel Bay, South Africa
Pinnacle Point is a coastal promontory in the Western Cape with several caves that preserve evidence of early human habitation. The rock formations jut into the landscape and contain deposits from multiple periods of occupation spanning thousands of years.
The caves were occupied by humans between roughly 170,000 and 40,000 years ago during the Middle Stone Age. Systematic excavations beginning in 2000 have uncovered substantial evidence about how people lived during this distant period.
The caves contain evidence of early marine resource exploitation and advanced tool-making techniques, demonstrating sophisticated human behaviors from 170,000 years ago.
Visitors should wear sturdy shoes suitable for rocky coastal terrain and steep paths between the cave entrances. Tours operate regularly, though booking in advance is recommended to ensure availability and to gain access to the protected site.
One cave shows evidence that people deliberately heated stones to improve their toolmaking, a technique far older than previously understood. This discovery revealed that inhabitants here were experimenting with complex methods to shape their tools.
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