An important step forward has been taken to have the archaeological site at Pinnacle Point, Mossel Bay, declared a World Heritage Site. The site, which is is regarded as one of the world’s most important archaeological sites, has been included, together with five other South African sites, in UNESCO’s tentative lists for World Heritage sites.
Professor Curtis Marean, associate director of the Institute of Human Origins and professor at the School of Human Evolution and Social Change at Arizona State University and his team of scientists announced in 2007 that they had uncovered the world’s oldest known evidence for the use of coastal resources, dating back to about 162 000 years ago, in Cave 13B at Pinnacle Point.
The site was included together with Blombos (Stilbaai), Klasies River (near Cape St Francis), Diepkloof (near Elands Bay on the West Coast) and Sibudu Cave and Border Cave (both KwaZulu-Natal) in a serial nomination submitted to UNESCO by the State Party, the South African Department of Environmental Affairs. All these sites relate to the emergence of modern humans.
Pinnacle Point gained Provincial Heritage status in December 2012.
In June 2014, the Mossel Bay Town Council approved the establishment of a state-of-the art interpretation centre for the discoveries at the Point. The centre, which will also house associated research facilities, is expected to be a huge tourist attraction. The old stone quarry site at the Point has been reserved for this purpose.
To be included in the World Heritage List, sites must be of Outstanding Universal Value, and meet at least one of ten criteria set by UNESCO.
The World Heritage Committee, the intergovernmental committee which decides which properties will be inscribed on the World Heritage list, or not, cannot consider a property for inscription unless it had been included on a tentative list first. The World Heritage Committee meets once a year and because of the complexities involved it could take several years for a site to be declared a World Heritage site.