The ‘Cradle of Humankind’ (COH), bordering Gauteng and the North-West Province, was declared a World Heritage Site for the wealth of the human and animal fossils found there. Research based on fossils found in the area as well as signs of early human habitation have shed new light on the evolution of humankind and on the significant role that southern Africa played in the development of modern humans. A Search for Origins aims to provide an overview of the history of the COH, and of the important discoveries that have been made there, for a non-specialist audience. A number of general accounts have been written which have concentrated on the palaeontological discoveries made there. No systematic account written by specialists in their disciplines has, however, been published about the wider history of the COH and surrounding areas. In particular, no overview spanning the evolution of early plant and animal life, human development and recent and colonial history as reflected in discoveries linked to the COH, has been attempted. This edited volume frames the scientific advances that have been made in the COH against the intellectual and political background out of which they emerged. The multi-disciplinary approach – from a wide range of specialists – is innovative and ground-breaking.

Rock Art of the Waterberg: Rites and Transformation is a landmark archaeological study that unveils the nuanced world view and rituals practised by local Bushman groups living in the Waterberg area of northern South Africa millennia ago. Through unprecedented documentation of 130 rock art sites; many photographed for the first time; Lyn Wadley and Ghilraen Laue reveal a complex narrative of human creativity and cultural interaction.Strategically located along river corridors leading to the Limpopo River, these sites offer an extraordinary glimpse into the lives of Bushman hunter-gatherers, Iron Age farmers and Khoekhoe herders. Their intricate visual languages span three distinct painting traditions: delicate Bushman fine-line art, robust Iron Age finger paintings and enigmatic geometric works that speak to millennia of cultural exchange.Beyond mere documentation, the book explores profound themes of human experience; hunting, initiation, healing and spiritual transformation. Archaeological evidence illuminates how these diverse groups coexisted and influenced one another cultural practices over two thousand years, challenging simplistic narratives of cultural isolation.Richly illustrated with archival photographs, enhanced views of the rock sites using cutting-edge photographic technology and original artworks by local artists, Rock Art of the Waterberg is a powerful testament to early human creativity and offers a crucial argument for preserving these fragile cultural archives. This ground-breaking study redefines our understanding of South African rock art and cultural heritage, offering scholars and enthusiasts an unprecedented journey into a forgotten world.

The ‘Cradle of Humankind’ (COH), bordering Gauteng and the North-West Province, was declared a World Heritage Site for the wealth of the human and animal fossils found there. Research based on fossils found in the area as well as signs of early human habitation have shed new light on the evolution of humankind and on the significant role that southern Africa played in the development of modern humans. A Search for Origins aims to provide an overview of the history of the COH, and of the important discoveries that have been made there, for a non-specialist audience. A number of general accounts have been written which have concentrated on the palaeontological discoveries made there. No systematic account written by specialists in their disciplines has, however, been published about the wider history of the COH and surrounding areas. In particular, no overview spanning the evolution of early plant and animal life, human development and recent and colonial history as reflected in discoveries linked to the COH, has been attempted. This edited volume frames the scientific advances that have been made in the COH against the intellectual and political background out of which they emerged. The multi-disciplinary approach – from a wide range of specialists – is innovative and ground-breaking.

Rock Art of the Waterberg: Rites and Transformation is a landmark archaeological study that unveils the nuanced world view and rituals practised by local Bushman groups living in the Waterberg area of northern South Africa millennia ago. Through unprecedented documentation of 130 rock art sites; many photographed for the first time; Lyn Wadley and Ghilraen Laue reveal a complex narrative of human creativity and cultural interaction.Strategically located along river corridors leading to the Limpopo River, these sites offer an extraordinary glimpse into the lives of Bushman hunter-gatherers, Iron Age farmers and Khoekhoe herders. Their intricate visual languages span three distinct painting traditions: delicate Bushman fine-line art, robust Iron Age finger paintings and enigmatic geometric works that speak to millennia of cultural exchange.Beyond mere documentation, the book explores profound themes of human experience; hunting, initiation, healing and spiritual transformation. Archaeological evidence illuminates how these diverse groups coexisted and influenced one another cultural practices over two thousand years, challenging simplistic narratives of cultural isolation.Richly illustrated with archival photographs, enhanced views of the rock sites using cutting-edge photographic technology and original artworks by local artists, Rock Art of the Waterberg is a powerful testament to early human creativity and offers a crucial argument for preserving these fragile cultural archives. This ground-breaking study redefines our understanding of South African rock art and cultural heritage, offering scholars and enthusiasts an unprecedented journey into a forgotten world.