Someone in The Kalahari Collected Crystals a Whopping 105,000 Years Ago JAYNE WILKINS & SECHABA MAAPE, THE CONVERSATION 1 APRIL 2021 A rockshelter in South Africa's Kalahari documents the innovative behaviors of early humans who lived there 105,000 years ago. We report the new evidence today in The rockshelter site is at Ga-Mohana Hill - a striking feature that stands proudly above an expansive savanna landscape.
Many residents of nearby towns consider Ga-Mohana a spiritual place, linked to stories of a great water snake. Some community members use the area for prayer and ritual. The hill is associated with mystery, fear and secrecy. Now, our findings reveal how important this place was even 105,000 years ago, documenting a long history of its spiritual significance. Our research also challenges a dominant narrative that the Kalahari region is peripheral in debates on the origins of humans.