Elands Bay Cave

Elands Bay Cave, located on South Africa's Western Cape Province, has served as a significant archaeological site for understanding the relationship between prehistoric hunter-gatherers and their environment. The cave provides a stratified record of human occupation from the Upper Paleolithic through the Neolithic periods, with evidence of habitation and subsistence strategies adapting to changing climates. The site reveals a transition from a wetter Pleistocene environment to a drier Holocene, impacting the available resources and necessitating shifts in subsistence practices. Archaeological findings include faunal remains, charcoal deposits, and shell middens, showcasing the site's role in understanding early human adaptations to coastal environments and resource management. The cave's stratigraphy and radiocarbon dating offer insights into the cultural evolution and seasonal movements of its ancient occupants.