Nelson Bay Cave, Stone Age archaeological site in Robberg Nature Reserve, South Africa.
Nelson Bay Cave is a prehistoric site on Robberg Peninsula that opens roughly 20 meters above sea level. The cave entrance is wide enough to accommodate groups and extends back into the cliff face with considerable depth.
Researchers excavated this site between 1964 and 1971 and found evidence of human occupation extending more than 100,000 years into the past. Inhabitants abandoned the cave during the coldest phase of the last ice age.
The cave takes its name from the bay where it is located. You can observe the traces of daily life that early inhabitants left behind in this sheltered setting.
This location is within a nature reserve with marked trails connecting different points on the peninsula. The path to the cave is relatively accessible, but visitors should be prepared for uneven ground and coastal weather.
Archaeological excavations uncovered burials with skeletons positioned in curled postures and adorned with shells and ochre pigment. These discoveries provide rare insight into how prehistoric people treated their dead.
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