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News archive for SAPIENCE

A recent study at SapienCE calls for a more nuanced approach to understanding the evolution of human cognition, arguing that research on the mental abilities of humans – in the present and the past – needs to incorporate cultural and cognitive diversity more explicitly.
A new SapienCE exhibition has opened in South Africa. The 'Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour” showcases unique archaeological discoveries offering visitors a distinct cultural experience in the heart of the De Hoop Nature Reserve.
A recent study demonstrates how dripstones can be crucial for reconstructing past climates. The new approach can provide a detailed picture of the climate around early human occupations in South Africa.
Our early ancestors were collecting eye-catching shells that may have been used as personal ornaments 100 000 years ago. The discoveries possibly also show the creation of identity that gradually, but radically changed the way we look at ourselves and others.
SapienCE’s Francesco d’Errico and his international team have published their analysis of the largest known collection of Middle Stone Age ochre, which reveals how ochre use evolved over a period of 4500 years. The new study is essential to understand how complex cultures arose and diversified in human history.
SapienCE scientist Francesco d’Errico is ranked as number 1 in Social Sciences and Humanities in Norway by Research.com.
The Origins of Early Southern Sapiens Behaviour exhibition is launched at Cape Point, South Africa. The exhibition showcases remarkable discoveries from SapienCE main excavation sites augmented by Sea Change Project contribution.
The SapienCE Annual Report of 2022 is available to download. The new report provides a summary of everything our team of world-leading scientists has achieved from the start of the Centre in 2017 until today. Come share our journey with us!
The SapienCE Early Human Behaviour Exhibition offers a unique opportunity to explore fascinating discoveries and insights into the behaviours of our early, shared, ancestors.
Eystein Jansen has played a vital role in the Centre since its foundation. Jansen's work has focused on exploring the ways that climate reconstruction can benefit archaeology to increase our understanding of how and when Homo sapiens evolved into who we are today.
An international team of archaeologists, led by a UiB scientist, has identified the oldest bone tools from southern Africa. The tools are 60,000 to 80,000 years old and were likely used for debarking trees and to dig into the ground.
Climate scientist Eystein Jansen has been elected Vice President of the European Research Council (ERC). He is the first Norwegian researcher to join the leadership of the elite division for European research.
Svante Pääbo has been awarded the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. "Warm congratulations to Svante Pääbo. We are extremely proud of our collaboration with the new laureate", says SapienCE-director Professor Christopher Henshilwood at the University of Bergen.
SapienCE invites applications for two positions as PhD Research Fellowships in Archaeology. The deadline for two fully funded 3-year PhD positions at SapienCE has been extended until September 11th 2022!
The SapienCE paper about a trapped artefact became the top ten most downloaded articles in the journal Geoarchaeology this year. The study demonstrates how the creative use of unconventional research methods turned an unfortunate archaeological sampling event into a scientific success story.
The SapienCE annual report for 2021 is now available with an insight to our exciting projects and activities which have taken place throughout the calendar year.
Cutting-edge technology makes it possible for scientists to retrieve DNA recovered decades ago. An international team of researchers, including scientists from SapienCE, were able to isolate ancient DNA from blocks of sediment embedded in plastic resin commonly used for micromorphological analyses.
One of the earliest forms of symbolic behaviour is the use of ochre. A new SapienCE project will explore how iron-rich rocks shaped the lives of early modern humans along the coast of South Africa.

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