Month: September 2014

van die Redaksie

Redaksie

Ons wil almal graag hê, dat dinge maklik moet wees en sonder veel moeite moet gebeur.

Almal en alles plaas klem op gemak deesdae.
Tegnologie – deur die druk van ‘n knoppie gaan ‘n nuwe wêreld voor jou oop, en kan jy toegang hê tot ‘n magdom inligting of kontak maak met mense aan die ander kant van die grootte wêreld …. jy kan hulle selfs sien ! So is dit met die media, kits deurry-restaurante, deur tot deur aflewerings, medikasie, kitsbanke, om maar net ‘n paar voorbeelde te noem.

Vooruitgang met alles wat “kits” is, is wonderlik, so opwindend en tog so gerieflik.
Maar… dit kom met ‘n prys en dis net daar wat jy in die slaggat trap !!

Dis aanloklik en almal om jou het een, so ek wil nie agterbly nie. Wat doen ons, ons trek die bankkaarte nader en koop…dikwels op skuld. Ook skelms skroom nie om hulle kans te waag deur tegnologie te omseil nie.
Hoeveel jongmense weet nog van kosmaak? Dis mos net te maklik om by ‘n deurry- of wegneemete restaurant vinnig iets te koop of te laat aflewer. Maar wat is dan lekkerder as ‘n bord “home cooking”?

Selfone, ag tog so gerieflik, maar o wee….
‘n Tyd gelede sit ek in ‘n “deftige” restaurant langs ‘n tafel met ses persone.
Van die ses sit slegs een man, hoog en droog, duidelik uiters geirriteerd, en toekyk hoe al vyf sy maters sonder ophou besig is op/met hul selfone. En ek wonder …. Het hulle dan regtig niks vir mekaar te sê nie ? Buitendien sou ‘n mens hulle optrede nie as uiters ongepoets kon beskou nie – en dit van duidelik “deftig geklede, heel moontlik geleerde” jongmense, wat ‘n mens sou dink, iets van etiket en goeie maniere behoort te weet.

Ek meen, goeie maniere raak mos nie uit die mode nie, of wat praat ek alles?

Sector 2 Community Safety Forum

Around 3 months ago, in conjunction with SAP Dagamaskop the Hartenbos Heuwels community got involved in Community Policing. We currently have around 50 members that work voluntarily to do daily / nightly patrols in our area.

We have had great success in combating the increase of crime in our area and have arrested many suspects in the area.

We have been successful in assisting with the prevention of house robberies and other crimes in our area.

We work under leadership and in conjunction with Warrant Officer Tommie Kleynhans and Colonel Van Der Sandt of the Dagamaskop Police Station – 044 606 2200.

All the above is done at our own expense and in our own time. We are trying to protect our area and bring back the safe family environment that Hartenbos should be. A passion for a safe, secure drug free environment to live in and to raise a family is what drives us.

We are calling on the residents to join our group or alternatively make a donation to assist with the community safety project.

Donations can be made to: / Donasies kan gemaak word by:

Nedbank:
Account Name: CSF Hartenbos
Account Number: 2007494000
Branch code:147205
Langeberg Mall

Police Sector 2 Numbers : 082 379 2449 or 079 894 1647
Rondom drie maande gelede,in affiliasie met SAP Dagamaskop, het die Hartenbos Heuwels gemeenskap betrokke geraak in Gemeenskap Polisiëring. Ons het huidiglik 50 lede wat daagliks patrolleer in ons area op ‘n volunteerbasis.

Ons het groot sukses behaal in die bekamping van misdaad en het verskeie kriminele al gearresteer.

Ons was ook suksesvol in die voorkoming van inbrake en ander misdade in ons area.

Ons werk onder leierskap en in samewerking met “Warrant Officer” Tommie Kleynhans, en Kolonel Van der Sandt van die Dagamaskop Polisie Stasie –
044 606 2200.

Al die bogenoemde word gedoen teen ons eie onkostes en in ons eie tyd. Ons probeer die gemeenskap in ons area beskerm en die veilige familie omgewing skep wat Hartenbos moet wees.

‘n Passie vir ‘n veilige, dwelm-vry omgewing om in te woon is ons motivering.

Ons doen ‘n beroep op al die inwoners om by ons groep aan te sluit, of om ‘n donasie te maak om te help met die Gemeenskap Veiligheids Projek. •

Sector 2 Community Safety Forum Braai

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BUSINESS FOCUS – CBS BEADS • DAZZLE IT – THE GOODS SHED ENCHANTE – MARSH STREET • JUST IT DIAZ

 

 

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Aneli – Just It Diaz, Adri – Eienares, Janine – CBS Beads, The Goods Shed
Rene – Dazzle It, The Goods Shed , Bianca – Enchante

 

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Dazzle It and CBS Beads, Enchante and Just it, … brings you the most stylish custom jewellery, Local and imported handbags, wallets, watches, scarf’s and other accessories at affordable prices..Certain Brands Polo, Guess and Paul’s Boutique Handbags a popular brand at our shops.. Cotton Road a new funky handbag brand are taken to the next level, with Adri the owner designing certain bags direct with the suppliers overseas .Local designer clothing and swimwear also form part of our collection. Once a year Adri also bring in her exclusive Jewelry range, designed with passion.

These shops are owned by Adri and she manage these with a excellent, friendly team , Rene , Janine , Bianca Anneli and Nico. Adri and her team are passionate about bringing beautiful pieces together and her shops reflects just that. Dazzle It, CBS Beads, Enchante and Just it , offers something for everyone. Whether you like extravagant custom Jewels, ,handbags, wallets scarf’s, beads, colorful, timeless or elegant, you will find it here. As for Fashion with a difference Enchante is worthwhile a visit, Bianca enjoy fashion and clothes, Roxstar a local swimwear range perfect .

Our shops offers a range of Jewellery, perfect for any occasion. Whether you are looking for the perfect finishing touch to wear to and event, work or just a treat for yourself, this is the perfect shop. Come and browse around. At Dazzle It ,Rene will make you feel welcome, with special treatment and professional advice for that perfect bag. Our relaxed and friendly atmosphere and of cause our beautiful and unique products and staff, is what makes our shop stand out. CBS beads with Janine creating new wooden beaded products, and much more, a must visit..

Adri, the owner, goes overseas and local to buy a range of handbags and stock for the shop. All the items are chosen with great care, to bring only the best to the shop. Don’t search any further, our shops offer you a wide range of Imported and local made Handbags Wallets, and scarf’s. For the Beader a CBS beads are your 1 stop bead shop..from the smallest crimp bead to beading tools and much more.
Enchante offers fashion designs from India, as well as local young South African designer wear.
Birthdays, Christmas and any occasion, Dazzle It ,Enchante, Just it and CBS beads offers perfect ideas for gifts in the area. We offer a wide range of products from Jewellery, handbags, wallets, watches, rings, bracelets, funky accessories, scarf’s, wooden bead work, and lots more, one need not look any further for a gift.

Dazzle it was founded and opened its doors 01 June 2008, I wanted to bring something different to our town, with a unique feel. Through the years clients became friends. We love the friendly faces we see, local and holiday visitors coming back again and again to our shops. We thank the community for all their love and support threw out the years.
For unique products, competitive prices and friendly customer service visit Dazzle It, CBS beads, Enchante and Just It. • Dr Adri Mc Namara 082 416 1726

Bontebok Capture – Pinnacle Conservation – in partnership with PetroSA

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“Game capture has so many various forms and when we deal with endangered game, it is always advisable to use chemical capture. “Pinnacle Conservation is in partnership with PetroSA and we are currently managing the game for them, whilst still allowing students an opportunity to get much needed practical experience” said Aiden Beck.(Conservation manager).

The Bontebok ram capture took place on the PetroSA reserve, as there were surplus Bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus dorcas) rams. This has led in the past to cause them to start fighting over ewes. The competition between the rams is so severe that in some cases they obtain serious injuries or it can even result in death of the animals. As these are endangered species that are endemic to the Western Cape, it was given high priority to remove the surplus Bontebok rams, as soon possible. By doing this, it will eliminate the competition within these animals, and at the same time reduce some of the grazing pressures that they have on the veld too.

A successful day of chemical darting was held by the Pinnacle Conservation team, with over 5 Bontebok rams being darted and then tested (DNA samples). These DNA samples (which include: hair and blood samples) are then sent to the Zoological gardens of Southern Africa to be tested independently, which is required by Cape Nature. The animals are even required to be micro chipped now to identify them over and above the ear tags, for later identification. The students all had an opportunity to learn how to

take DNA samples, and how to work with these beautiful antelope.

Bontebok (Damaliscus pygargus dorcas) has a limited distribution and the IUCN conservation status is known as “vulnerable to extinction”. The Bontebok is one of the rarest antelope species in South Africa, which is the reason why they are considered to be vulnerable, as there are less than 3500 animals.

The average shoulder height for Bontebok is 90cm and they the rams weigh 62kg on average. They resemble the Blesbok in regards to size and their physical appearance, but there are slight differences that set them apart from Blesbok;
• Dark brown and glossy coat, where the coat of the Blesbok is a reddish-brown with no gloss.
• Bontebok’s white blaze on face is unbroken, while the Blesbok has a broken white facial blaze.
• Bontebok always has white buttocks and the Blesbok’s buttocks are usually pale.
• Bontebok are also slightly smaller than Blesbok browse. They graze mostly on the short grasses of the low-lying coastal plains and they prefer regularly burned veld. Bontebok are diurnal but are more likely to be less active during hotter midday hours. They are also seasonal breeders that mates from January to April and their gestation period is approximately 8 Months (230 – 254 days). Bontebok lambs have a mass of 6-7 kg at birth and have a pale to creamy colouration.There are roughly thought to be 11 pregnant Bontebok ewes at the moment, so the herd will increase in the next few months as the lambs are born.” •

Aiden Beck 044 601 3149

Lighthouse run kicks off feast of Sport in Mossel Bay

When the starter’s gun fires this Friday for Mossel Bay’s first lighthouse-to-lighthouse trail run, it’ll be firing, too, for the start of three weeks of sporting excitement for the town – with no less than three different national championships, a provincial championship, and a festival featuring events in more than thirty different odes on offer.

“The council took a strategic decision three years ago to position Mossel Bay as the sporting capital of the Southern Cape – and we’re excited to see that the people of the town have got behind the idea in a big way,” said Mossel Bay Tourism’s Marcia Holm. “The council and municipality have created the enabling environment – but all the events we’ll be seeing over the next three weeks were organised by individuals and sport clubs, and they all deserve many thanks for their dedication and hard work.”

The three-week-long feast will begin with the 3rd Oystercatcher Trail Run – from Ystervarkpunt Lighthouse on Rein’s Coastal Nature Reserve to Cape St. Blaize Lighthouse at The Point, Mossel Bay – which is limited to a maximum of 150 athletes, and which was sold out within hours of opening.

Event host and Mossel Bay Tourism Board member, Fred Orban (of Sandpiper Cottages, and The Oystercatcher Trail and Hunter-gatherer Trail luxury walks) said that sport and sporting opportunities are amongst the biggest attractions for visitors to Mossel Bay.

“The media and social media coverage of the events of the next three weeks will provide a massive boost to Mossel Bay Tourism’s marketing, and will showcase Mossel Bay as a top destination for athletes and their families,” he said.

The Southern Cape Board Riders Association’s Llewellyn Whittaker – owner of Mossel Bay’s Waves School of Surfing – said that Surfing South Africa’s Open Surfing Championships will take place at The Point, Mossel Bay, from 24 to 28 September.

“It promises to be a hotly contested event, with over 150 people taking part, and with two-times SA champ Casey Grant returning to defend his title.”

The new South African Surfing team will receive their colors at the Protea Hotel Mossel Bay on the evening of the 24th.

PetroSA’s annual Development Run will take place on the 23rd of September at D’Almeida Sports Grounds – and runners are asked to bring their old running shoes to the event, and to donate them (via Shoes For Planet Earth) to help children and teens who also love the sport, but can’t afford the equipment. The run is the traditional precursor to the annual PetroSA Marathon (10, 21, and 42 km road races on 27 September at Santos Caravan Park), which expects to draw a number of international athletes this year, and which has recently been accredited by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the Association for International Marathon Standards (AIMS). This means that participants in the PetroSA Marathon can now use the event as a qualifier for participation in any international road running event around the world, and even for events like the Commonwealth Games or the Olympic Games.

Although the PetroSA Marathon takes place a week before Mossel Bay’s Annual Sports Festival (a decision influenced by the differences between the national athletics calendar and the national school calendar), it is nevertheless considered one of the iconic and official events of the Festival.

The Festival itself will run from the 3rd to the 8th of October, and will include the first leg of SA Sailing’s Southern Charter Grand Slam Series – which aims to promote and develop competitive dinghy and multihull racing and also “to attract the attention of people looking for a vibrant sport-code in which they can invest their time, energies and resources.” (www.sasgrandslam.co.za)

“The Mossel Bay Boat and Yacht Club will be organising the event as the Southern Regional Champs incorporating the Eastern Cape Provincials 2014, as well as the South African Mosquitoes (catamaran) and Fireballs (dinghy) Championships,” said Elfie Holden, who is helping to organise the regatta.

She said that the event will attract in excess of 140 people.

Mossel Bay’s Sports Festival also features the country’s biggest cricket tournament: the KFC Point High Cricket Festival (3 – 7 October), which has drawn entries from 32 teams from South Africa and Namibia, who will play a total of 61 games on 16 fields.

Other highlights of the Festival include a motorsports gymkhana, soccer, skateboarding, bowls, cycling, jukskei, schools athletics, and golf (the Pinnacle Point and Mossel Bay Golf Courses have teamed up to create the first ever ‘Best of Mossel Bay’ tournament on 3 and 4 October – which will include one round at each course, shared cart hire at Pinnacle Point, prize-giving ceremonies on both days, and an evenings of entertainment at Pinnacle Point – all for just R 600.00 per player).

But, said Ms. Holm, the Festival isn’t only for athletes.

“We want to make this an event for everyone, so there’ll also be a doggie walk in aid of the SPCA, as well as the MossMarch – our always popular mass walk – and a great street party on Saturday the 4th of October.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone to Mossel Bay,” she said. •

Please visit Mossel Bay Tourism’s online calendar for information about individual events: www.visitmosselbay.co.za. •

Follow Mossel Bay Tourism on
Twitter: @GetMe2MosselBay or @MBayTourism
Facebook: VisitMosselBay

Mossel Bay Tourism welcomes announcement on World Heritage Site status for Pinnacle Point Caves.

Mossel Bay Tourism has welcomed today’s announcement by the Western Cape’s MEC for Cultural Affairs and Sport, Dr. Nomafrench Mbombo, regarding an application to UNESCO for the declaration of a World Heritage Site for a series of South African caves which are significant to understanding the emergence of modern humans.

The list includes Mossel Bay’s Pinnacle Point Caves, which have revealed the earliest evidence for modern human behaviour, and which have been – and continue to be – the subject of ongoing research by a team of scientists from around the world since 2000.

MEC Mbombo said that the Western Cape Government and Heritage Western Cape are working on an application to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to declare the Pinnacle Point Caves in Mossel Bay, the Blombos Cave (near Still Bay in the Western Cape), the Diepkloof Rock Shelter (near Elands Bay in the Western Cape), the Klasies River Caves (near Humansdorp), the Border Cave (in the Lebombo Mountains of KwaZulu-Natal), and the Sibudu Cave (in northern KwaZulu-Natal) – as well as a number of similar sites that show significant signs of occupation during the Middle Pleistocene – as a collective World Heritage Site (technically a ‘serial nomination’).

“When these sites are looked at collectively they tell the story of the origins of humankind. They display the very first evidence of cognitive human development, early nuclear family life, art and human values associated with modern humans today,” said Minister Mbombo.

She said that the serial nomination has already been placed on UNESCO’s tentative list of heritage sites.

“Once a site is on the tentative list, a comprehensive process of collation of data and compilation of supporting evidence needs to take place…

“The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport has initiated this process and we estimate that we would have completed our work by 2016. Because a country can only make one nomination of this kind in a year, 2016 is the aim as it will coincide with the conclusion of our research.

“The fact that these sites are recognised and have been placed on the tentative list is reason for us to be proud of the work we have done thus far. We look forward to the next two years as we conclude this process of our nomination,” she said.

Mossel Bay’s Dr. Peter Nilssen and his colleague, consulting archaeologist Jonathan Kaplan, discovered Middle Stone Age middens in the Pinnacle Point Caves (about 12 km west of Cape St. Blaize) during the environmental impact assessment for the development of the Garden Route Casino and Pinnacle Point Beach & Golf Estate in the late 90s.

Dr. Nilssen and Professor Curtis Marean, an associate director of the Institute of Human Origins and professor at the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University, began test excavations in 2000. The team published its first significant paper on the finds in the peer review journal, ‘Nature,’ in 2007 (‘Early human use of marine resources and pigment in South Africa during the Middle Pleistocene’).

Prof. Marean later established the South African Coastal Palaeoclimate, Palaeoenvironment, Palaeoecology and Palaeoanthropology (SACP4) Project in order to expand the scope of the study.

The SACP4 Project is now the largest scientific project of its kind in the world, having so far received more than $10 million in funding from the USA’s National Science Foundation, the Institute of Human Origins and the Hyde Family Trust. More than forty top scientists are currently involved in the research.

“The Pinnacle Point Caves have revealed the earliest evidence for modern human behaviour, which places South Africa’s Southern Cape region as the birthplace of culture and advanced, modern technology,” said Dr. Nilssen.

This includes the earliest use of ochre for colouring (which places Mossel Bay as the birthplace of culture), and the earliest evidence for systematic harvesting of marine resources (important both because of seafood’s role in the development of our modern brain, and because this behaviour indicates the development of advanced thought).

Pinnacle Point has also revealed the earliest manufacture of tiny stone blades that were embedded into other materials (wood or bone) to produce more efficient tools, and the first use of fire to anneal silcrete, and so turn this otherwise unpromising stone into an ideal raw material for manufacturing top quality tools – both of which place Mossel Bay as the birthplace of advanced technology.

The Pinnacle Point Caves were declared a Provincial Heritage Site in December, 2012.

Mossel Bay Tourism board member, Fred Orban – who coordinates public visits to the Pinnacle Point Caves via The Point of Human Origins Experience (which donates 20% of its turnover to the conservation and preservation of the Caves) – said that World Heritage Status would deliver significant advantages for the sites.

“It’ll help us in marketing South Africa – and particularly the Southern Cape – as the birthplace of modern human behaviour, but it will also help to protect the Caves against the effects of curio collectors. This is important, because the material in the caves is of irreplaceable value to our understanding of where we’ve come from – and where we can expect to go to in the future.”

Mr. Orban said that Mossel Bay is currently working towards the creation of an interpretive museum for the Caves.

“We congratulate Minister Mbombo, and look forward to working with the Western Cape Government to ensure the success of this application,” he said. • Mosselbay Tourism

Musings – Ode aan Dans

by Jacques Valjean

Ek sien hom dikwels by die dansplek – kom sonder uitsondering alleen daar aan, en maak hom dan tuis langs die dansbaan, sy enigste whisky van die aand langs hom staan gemaak , en dan beloer hy die mense op die dansbaan soos hulle voor hom, téénaan hom verby geweeg. En dis nie ‘n lelike bekyk nie; – eerder ‘n ondersoekende, geïnteresseerde kyk wat wil wéét wat gebeur op die baan.
Totdat hyself op die vloer verskyn, een of ander van die meisies/vroue voor hom; “pose” amper sodat sy haar posisie kan inneem, en dan begin hulle beweeg.
“Poetry in motion” is ‘n redelik toepaslik term. Anders as die ander op die baan met koeksisterswaaie en rondomtalies, is daar min fieterjasies – en sy dansmaat sonder uitsondering is so gemaklik, ontspanne in sy arms, dit lyk asof hulle jare saam dans. En tog wéét ek, hulle het mekaar dikwels voor hierdie dans nog nooit eers gesien nie. Want ek het al met van sy dansmaats gesels. Só word dit gedoen, dink ek altyd by myself. Hulle DANS nie – hulle “float” – geen sinkplaatpad, g’n waterpomp nie; net daardie kenmerkende, swewende, gladweg beweging oor die vloer, bolywe een in beweging….

Dans is sekerlik een van die wonderlikste ervarings wat daar is. Die gesinchroniseerde, gladde beweging van twee mense wil-wil praat van ‘n dieper harmonie – en tog is daar selde enige dieper verbintenis as net die saam-saam ervaring van die musiek. Min dinge (vir my) is meer aangenaam en bevredigend as om met ‘n goeie dansmaat om die vloer te beweeg; sy voel – nee, “voel” is nie die regte term nie; eerder “ervaar” sonder om fisies te “voel” – jou beweging en intensie aan, nog voordat jy bewustelik daardie volgende beweging uitvoer, en dan is sy net eenvoudig foutloos, naatloos sáám met jou om die draai, in die volgende beweging in…… En dan die afkyk in haar gesig, sy wat opkyk met ‘n glimlag, want sy wéét sy was goed om daardie een beweging sonder ‘n oomblik se aarseling te kon volg, en die ervaring van harmonie is bietjie nader aan eenwees van psige as wat ‘n diep gesprek sou wees.

Die matige intimiteit van bolywe wat téénaan mekaar is en bly, saam-saam beweeg deur al die draaie, vertel van die oer-honger van almal van ons om net soms iemand te hê wat partykeer nader is as gewoonlik, wat die aanduiding gee dat daar iewers ‘n belofte is van harmonie, van gesinchroniseerd saambeweeg, saam is… En die teenaan wees is onpretensieus, meer ‘n noodsaaklikheid ter wille van die harmonie as wat dit sensuele saamwees insinueer.
En tog, diep binne-in, iewers in die skemerige donkertes van menswees, is daar deur die dans se harmonie ‘n bewustheid van uitreik van self met vormlose arms en hande na die ander ek wat hier in my arms, teenaan my lyf saambeweeg. Die blikke wat soms wétend gewissel word in die dans, praat meer as wat woorde sou kon sê. En aan die einde van die dans, as sy terugbesorg is op haar plek, bly die herinnering aan haar gladde bewegings, stylvolle en foutlose volg van my passies, saam met haar parfuum kleef aan my menswees. Sonder verpligting, sonder enige toutjies wat agterna kan seermaak, het ons, ek en die vreemdeling, sáám iets ervaar van die dieper menswees, die gesamentlike bewustheid wat iewers in die kosmos alle bewussyn saamvoeg.

Ek het hom nog altyd alleen sien aankom by die dansplek. Ek het hom ook nog nooit in iemand se geselskap daar sien uitstap nie. Ook vir hom, neem ek aan, is die tyd op die baan deel van die groter en dieper ervaring van dans as éénwees op ‘n ander vlak.

En hy, met sy versameling van dansmaats wat saam met hom die komplekse bewegings na vooraf gereëlde en ingeoefende choreografie laat lyk, sal sekerlik saam met my waardering bevestig vir die wese van dans…… •

Jan Braai returns to braaiing’s birthplace

Popular TV personality and director of the National Braai Tour, Jan Braai, will return to the place where people made their first braais – the Pinnacle Point Caves near Mossel Bay – this Friday together with the 120 members of the Tour.

He described the Tour as a social rally around South Africa during which teams of four people each will visit important cultural and natural sites.

He filmed his last visit to the Caves for the show ‘Jan Braai vir Erfenis’ (Jan Braai for Heritage) that was aired on KykNet.

“Pinnacle Point is an extremely important site – not just for South Africa, but for the entire world,” he said. “It’s just a matter of time before it’s declared a World Heritage Site.”

Jan’s visit to the Caves will begin with a lecture by Dr. Peter Nilssen, the archaeologist who introduced the Caves to Science.

Dr. Nilssen said that the archaeology of the Caves has revealed the earliest evidence for the use of ochre as paint (which places them as the birthplace of culture); the earliest evidence for the use of complex technology – including the use of heat for stone tool production; and the earliest evidence for systematic harvesting from the sea (which represents advanced cognitive behaviour since it points to a knowledge of tides and, perhaps, the lunar cycle that influences them).

More than forty scientists from around the world have been working – and continue to work – to unlock the secrets of the climate, the environment, the ecology, and the anthropology of the Middle Stone Age under the leadership of Curtis Marean, an associate director of the Institute of Human Origins and professor at the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University.

The research into the climate of the area covers the period 400,000 to 30,000 years ago – and, since the Caves contain the longest record of human habitation of all Middle Stone Age Sites (more than 120,000 years), this could deliver insights into how humans adapt their behavior to changes in climate.

Prof Marean and colleagues produced their first significant paper on the Caves in 2007: ‘Early human use of marine resources and pigment in South Africa during the Middle Pleistocene’ appeared in the top peer-reviewed journal, ‘Nature.’

Jan Braai said he was excited to return to the Pinnacle Point Caves.

“On our first visit, Peter found a stone knife which we used to cut the meat we braaied that day – it was amazing to think that a knife that might have been made 162,000 years ago was still sharp enough to use today.”

He said that he loves visiting Mossel Bay – and he loves eating there. His favourite dish when he’s in town? Seafood. Amongst others

“It’s a beautiful town and a great holiday spot. I’ve had incredible meat at places like Kaai 4 at the Harbour, great pizzas at Delfino’s (at The Point), and probably the greatest meal of the year at Café Gannet, at the Protea Hotel Mossel Bay.

“That was phenomenal. Mossel Bay should be super proud to have an asset like that.”

Fred Orban, coordinator of the Point of Human Experience – through which the public can access the caves, and learn about the origins of modern human behaviour in the company of Dr. Nilssen – said that visits to the Caves are usually limited to small groups of about twelve people at a time.

“The members of the National Braai Tour will have to go down in shifts, but it’s important that we introduce as many people as possible to the work that’s going on here, so we’ll make a plan.”

Before visiting the Caves, Dr. Nilssen will deliver a lecture on the origins of modern human behaviour in the Bravo Lounge at the Garden Route Casino.

Mr. Orban thanked the Casino for making the venue available free of charge, while Jan Braai thanked the people of Mossel Bay – and particularly those associated with the Pinnacle Point Caves – for making the visit possible. He said that he and his team will be filming “a few episodes” of Jan Braai vir Erfenis, which will screen on KykNet during October.

Members of the public may only visit the Pinnacle Point Caves on an official tour; please see www.humanorigin.co.za for details. For more on the archaeology of Mossel Bay, please go to www.visitmosselbay.co.za/archaeology, and for information about Jan Braai and his mission to unite all South Africans through our common heritage, please go to www.braai.com (you’ll find some lekker recipes there, too). • Mosselbay Tourism