The Sands of Time
The stratigraphic pillars at Origins Centre represent early hominin technological changes through time and across the world
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Archaeology
Archaeological research involves the meticulous excavation of layers of sand to reveal what happened in the past, and who lived there. The youngest layers are at the top, and the oldest at the bottom.
The soil at a site is sieved and artefacts are carefully recorded so archaeologist know in which layers and squares the artefacts were found.
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Change through time
These stratigraphic pillars represent the sands of time that have accumulated and been lived on by hominins in different continents. They show that the oldest evidence of the human story - stone tools and hominin fossils - comes from Africa.
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Africa - the birthplace of humanity
The fossil evidence in Africa dates back over 6 million years.
Changes in tool technologies over the last 3 million years show how hominin behaviour and cognitive abilities have changed through time.
Stratigraphic pillars (2006) by Origins CentreOriginal Source: Origins Centre, University of the Witwatersrand
Out of Africa
Archaeological and genetic evidence shows that two significant movements of hominins out of Africa happened at around 1.8 million years ago (Homo ergaster/erectus), and 70 000 years ago (Homo sapiens).
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Eurasia and the Americas
Archaeological evidence shows that Eurasia was first populated by hominins from Africa as early as 1.8 million years ago (Homo erectus) and the Americas only by 30 000 years ago (Homo sapiens ).
Wits Archaeology
Narrator: Gcina Mhlophe
Online Exhibition Curator: Tammy Hodgskiss
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