Blombos Cave

About Blombos Cave

Blombos Cave is a world-renowned archaeological site on South Africa's southern coast, famously containing the oldest known human drawing. Located within the Blombos Private Nature Reserve near Still Bay, it holds evidence of advanced human cognition dating back 70,000 to 100,000 years. The site is central to the debate on when "modern human behaviour" first emerged, providing proof that symbolic thought developed in Africa long before it appeared in Europe. The "World's Oldest Doodle": A 73,000-year-old silcrete flake featuring a cross-hatched design drawn with an ochre crayon. Ochre Processing Workshop: A 100,000-year-old "artist's toolkit" consisting of abalone shells used as containers to mix liquefied, ochre-rich pigment. Specialised Toolmaking: Recent 2025 findings suggest early humans used ochre as a specialized tool for stone toolmaking, indicating highly advanced technical skills. Access: The cave is located on private land and is not open to the general public to protect the ongoing research and delicate archaeological layers.