A deep geological and archaeological history of the Cape

Associate Professor John Compton from UCT will be giving a fascinating talk titled ‘A deep geological and archaeological history of the Cape’ at Table Bay Nature Reserve on 28th March. This is a joint evening talk brought to you by Friends of Rietvlei and Friends of Blaauwberg Conservation Area

The Cape has a deep history that stretches back millions of years. This deep history can be read from the rocks exposed in the area, which tell of the many events leading up to the landscape that we see today.

The breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana, uplift and erosion, changes in climate, changes in sea level, all played key roles in understanding the deep geological past.

The Cape has also been home to our ancestors for the better part of the last one million years. Stone tools scattered over the landscape and cave sites tell us about human evolution from Homo erectus to modern Homo sapiens.

This talk will include some of the major events recorded at the Cape in the evolution of our species, in particular, the role of changes in climate and sea level.

John Compton is an associate professor (emeritus) in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Cape Town where he has been since 1996. He has written over 60 scientific papers on the West Coast and is the author of two popular science books: ‘The Rocks & Mountains of Cape Town‘ and ‘Human Origins, How diet, climate and landscape shaped us’.

Copies of his books will be available for purchase at the talk (R150 and R300, respectively, or both for R400, cash sales only).
Visit his website: johnscompton.com for more information.

Visitors are welcome to attend this special presentation.

Venue:
Table Bay Nature Reserve Boma at Rietvlei,
10 Sandpiper Crescent, Table View.
Time: 19h30 for 20h00

For more information contact
Pauline on 083 255 2537 or Nelis on 082 777 5708.

Photograph: Courtesy Fiona Hinds