Inter-provincial team leads mission for proposed World Heritage site

The National Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) and Heritage Western Cape, KZN Amafa and Research Institute, hosted the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) technical evaluation mission for the proposed World Heritage Site serial nomination: The Emergence of Modern Humans: The Pleistocene Occupation Sites of South Africa from 14 to 18 August 2023.

Three sites are currently part of the UNESCO World Heritage nomination, which is hoped to be discussed at the 2024 session of the World Heritage Committee. These sites, which were all visited by the evaluation mission, are Diepkloof Rock Shelter (Piketberg, Western Cape), Pinnacle Point Site Complex (Mossel Bay, Western Cape), and Sibhudu Cave (Durban, KwaZulu-Natal). These sites display a suite of evidence of the emergence of modern human behaviour from about 162 000 years ago, which helps us to understand the origins of what it means to be human. The team, which also included officials from Wesgro and the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), accompanied the two ICOMOS experts to assess the three sites.

Michael Janse van Rensburg, the CEO of Heritage Western Cape, explained that “The nomination of these sites represents an exceptional example of inter-provincial co-operation and collaboration and will showcase South African unique and precious heritage on the global stage”.

Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander said: “Having two of the Western Cape’s heritage sites forming part of the UNESCO World Heritage nomination gives us an exciting opportunity to showcase the province and its Pleistocene. These sites not only provide a unique insight into the history and culture of our region, but they also promote cultural tourism. Therefore, I encourage visitors to come and journey back in time to trace the origins and development of human culture over the past 100 000 years, and discover some of humanity’s earliest use of symbolism, art and technology.”

For more information about the Cradle of Human Culture click here.

For more information about the KwaZulu-Natal Amafa and Research Institute click here.

DCAS will continue to support this project and others like it to ensure that our natural heritage is promoted and preserved.