Die Kelders Cave

Die Kelders Cave is a Middle Stone Age archaeological site located near the town of Gansbaai in South Africa's Western Cape province. The site sits along the southern coast of Africa, overlooking the ocean. It is positioned near several other highly significant coastal archaeological sites.

Excavations have yielded early modern human remains, stone tools, and clear evidence of symbolic behavior dating to approximately 70,000 to 80,000 years ago. The site has provided critical data on the cognitive evolution of our species. Researchers have also found extensive hearth features indicating controlled use of fire.

Yes, the site contains vast amounts of shellfish remains, proving that early humans systematically exploited coastal marine resources. The dense layers of shells helped preserve the delicate bones and artifacts within the cave over millennia. This dietary shift to marine resources was vital for early human survival.

Die Kelders is part of a network of significant coastal caves along the southern Cape, sitting relatively close to the famous Blombos Cave. Together, these sites provide extensive evidence of the behaviors of early modern humans during the Middle Stone Age. Die Kelders is particularly noted for its detailed stratigraphy.