NSF PR 04-048 - April 15, 2004 |
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 Note About Images |
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Image 1 |
Nassarius shell beads from Blombos Cave, an archaeological site on the South African coast, are 75,000 years old.
Credit: C. Henshilwood & F. d'Errico |
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Image 2 |
Karen van Niekerk and Josse Rasmussen excavate Middle Stone Age artifacts at Blombos Cave
Credit: C. Henshilwood & F. d'Errico |
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Image 3 |
Chris Henshilwood and co-workers excavate Middle Stone Age artifacts at Blombos Cave
Credit: C. Henshilwood & F. d'Errico |
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Image 4 |
These marine shells were selected for size and perforated 75, 000 years ago.
Credit: C. Henshilwood & F. d'Errico |
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Image 5 |
Chris Henshilwood examines the tiny shell beads found at Blombos Cave
Credit: C. Henshilwood & F. d'Errico |
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Image 6 |
Humans occupied Blombos Cave, on the shore of the Indian Ocean, 75,000 years ago. Accumulated dune sand then closed off the cave. About 2,000 years ago, rising sea levels re-opened Blombos and humans returned.
Credit: C. Henshilwood & F. d'Errico |
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Image 7 |
The perforations of these Nassarius shells show wear marks, indicating they were used as beads.
Credit: C. Henshilwood & F. d'Errico |
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Image 8 |
Archaeologists discovered shell beads at Blombos Cave, 300 kilometers east of Cape Town, South Africa, on the coast of the Indian Ocean. The beads were found in a layer of artifacts dating back 75,000 years.
Credit: C.Henshilwood / NSF |
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