Day four - Johannesburg,
6th October 2007
Today I drove into town and had a lengthy visit to the University of
Witwatersrand's Origins Centre. The origins of man are on display here -
and many noted academics like David Lewis-Williams who I have been corresponding
with ave played a major role in revealing the importance of San (Bushman)
paintings as spiritual objects. Entranc is just ZAR45 - and excllent value.
My guide Brian took me around.
The Origins Centre sits on top of a hill in a very plain looking building
but the display and interactive kiosks right through the exhibition are
exceptionally well done. There are large screens and constantly running films
on the San language, stone age stones - and of course a section set up by
Pippa Skotness - who I hope to meet up with while in Cape Town.
In 2000 archeologists discovered the oldest known artwork in the world at
Blombos Cave - a 75,000 year old piece - there is a sample you can "touch"
which is nothing more than imagery - yet I was able to photograph it!
There is also a replica of the Makgabeng Shelter - located in northern South
Africa where the San actually rew a train - and the impact of white man on
them! Chief Maleboho of the Hananwa clan was arrested by Paul Kruger's boers
in 1894 and the picture shows him being taken aeay in the train.
Fascinating - see image below.
Also shown below are replicas of some famous early human skulls including
Raymond Dart's Taung Child - I have his signature on one of his papers.
After watching the Wallabies lose narrowly to England (10-12) in the world
rugby cup I met with my children Richard and Kerry-Leigh having dinner at
the Butcher's Grill in Mandela Square.
Richard (who got eight straight High Distinction As in year 12 last year)
is studying to be an electrical engineer. Sasol are sponsoring his University
education - bright boy!
I got home after 9pm - all the power was out - and I stumbled my way back
to bed t the Klip Kop cottage.
More about the trials of packing in the dark in the early hours of he morning
- for my flight to Durban tomorrow!
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Another white beggar |
My signed books for sale in |
the shelves of Exclusive Books |
Stone age impliments |
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The oldest art in the world |
More stone age impliments |
My guide Brian |
Australopithecus Boisei (left) (Nutcracker Man) from Tanzania
Sahelanthropus (right) - Chad |
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Parenthropus Robustus (Swartkrans SA);
Australopithecus Afarensis (Lucy) from Ethiopia |
Australopithecus Aficanus
(Taung Child) |
Home Ergaster and Rudolfensis (Kenya),
Homo Habilis (Tanzania) |
The migration of man from East Africa |
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Original and classic San painting |
San rainmaker gear |
The famous train painting |
Part of Pippa's display |
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My book for sale at the
Origins centre |
Proud dad with
Kerry Leigh and Richard |
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Return to Scott Balson's 2007 book
tour
