Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town
@heriuct.bsky.social
Our work drives transformative research on the African record of human evolution. Learn more: https://linktr.ee/heri.uct
Ancient tooth proteins reveal the biological sex and genetic diversity of Paranthropus robustus.
Led by Dr. Palesa Madupe of the University of Copenhagen and UCT’s HERI, this study provides the oldest human genetic data from Africa.
🔗 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Led by Dr. Palesa Madupe of the University of Copenhagen and UCT’s HERI, this study provides the oldest human genetic data from Africa.
🔗 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
November 19, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Ancient tooth proteins reveal the biological sex and genetic diversity of Paranthropus robustus.
Led by Dr. Palesa Madupe of the University of Copenhagen and UCT’s HERI, this study provides the oldest human genetic data from Africa.
🔗 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Led by Dr. Palesa Madupe of the University of Copenhagen and UCT’s HERI, this study provides the oldest human genetic data from Africa.
🔗 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Flowstones from the Cradle of Humankind in #SouthAfrica reveal no evidence of intrusion.
New work, led by HERI’s Georgina Luti, counters arguments that the flowstones are uniform & intrusive, adding support for their role in dating fossils.
🔗 www.heriuct.co.za/news-content...
New work, led by HERI’s Georgina Luti, counters arguments that the flowstones are uniform & intrusive, adding support for their role in dating fossils.
🔗 www.heriuct.co.za/news-content...
November 12, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Flowstones from the Cradle of Humankind in #SouthAfrica reveal no evidence of intrusion.
New work, led by HERI’s Georgina Luti, counters arguments that the flowstones are uniform & intrusive, adding support for their role in dating fossils.
🔗 www.heriuct.co.za/news-content...
New work, led by HERI’s Georgina Luti, counters arguments that the flowstones are uniform & intrusive, adding support for their role in dating fossils.
🔗 www.heriuct.co.za/news-content...
🦴 The #TaungChild fossil changed how we understand human origins in #Africa. Its story is shaped by prejudice, rivalry and hidden hands.
🎧 Unburied Season 2: The Taung Child from HERI and ARC explores its history and legacy.
Listen here 👉 linktr.ee/arcdocs
🎧 Unburied Season 2: The Taung Child from HERI and ARC explores its history and legacy.
Listen here 👉 linktr.ee/arcdocs
November 5, 2025 at 8:01 AM
🦴 The #TaungChild fossil changed how we understand human origins in #Africa. Its story is shaped by prejudice, rivalry and hidden hands.
🎧 Unburied Season 2: The Taung Child from HERI and ARC explores its history and legacy.
Listen here 👉 linktr.ee/arcdocs
🎧 Unburied Season 2: The Taung Child from HERI and ARC explores its history and legacy.
Listen here 👉 linktr.ee/arcdocs
Science is stronger when every voice is heard. At HERI, diversity drives discovery, challenges assumptions, and creates richer stories of our shared human story.
October 29, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Science is stronger when every voice is heard. At HERI, diversity drives discovery, challenges assumptions, and creates richer stories of our shared human story.
Applications are open for the 2025 Student Development Workshop (SDW) at Skukuza, Kruger National Park! 🌿🦓
A great opportunity for students in archaeology & heritage management.
📅 6–10 Dec 2025
See details on SAASS social media & website: www.saassarchaeology.com/upcoming-eve...
A great opportunity for students in archaeology & heritage management.
📅 6–10 Dec 2025
See details on SAASS social media & website: www.saassarchaeology.com/upcoming-eve...
October 24, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Applications are open for the 2025 Student Development Workshop (SDW) at Skukuza, Kruger National Park! 🌿🦓
A great opportunity for students in archaeology & heritage management.
📅 6–10 Dec 2025
See details on SAASS social media & website: www.saassarchaeology.com/upcoming-eve...
A great opportunity for students in archaeology & heritage management.
📅 6–10 Dec 2025
See details on SAASS social media & website: www.saassarchaeology.com/upcoming-eve...
Africa’s caves are timekeepers of climate and life. 🌍
An all-women research team, led by HERI’s Georgina Luti, has revealed how rock layers called speleothems record shifts in Africa’s past and help us date fossils more reliably.
#WomenInScience & rooted in Africa.
An all-women research team, led by HERI’s Georgina Luti, has revealed how rock layers called speleothems record shifts in Africa’s past and help us date fossils more reliably.
#WomenInScience & rooted in Africa.
October 22, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Africa’s caves are timekeepers of climate and life. 🌍
An all-women research team, led by HERI’s Georgina Luti, has revealed how rock layers called speleothems record shifts in Africa’s past and help us date fossils more reliably.
#WomenInScience & rooted in Africa.
An all-women research team, led by HERI’s Georgina Luti, has revealed how rock layers called speleothems record shifts in Africa’s past and help us date fossils more reliably.
#WomenInScience & rooted in Africa.
HERI brings #Africa to the heart of #humanevolution research, blending innovation, inclusivity and transformative training. From ancient biomolecules to archaeology, we’re shaping a more ethical and African-centered science.
October 15, 2025 at 8:00 AM
HERI brings #Africa to the heart of #humanevolution research, blending innovation, inclusivity and transformative training. From ancient biomolecules to archaeology, we’re shaping a more ethical and African-centered science.
The #TaungChild has been silent for over 2 million years — until now.
Our new podcast takes you back to 1924 #SouthAfrica, where one fossil would upend colonial narratives to centre human origins #Africa.
🌍Unburied Season 2: The Taung Child
🔗 Listen: linktr.ee/arcdocs
Our new podcast takes you back to 1924 #SouthAfrica, where one fossil would upend colonial narratives to centre human origins #Africa.
🌍Unburied Season 2: The Taung Child
🔗 Listen: linktr.ee/arcdocs
October 8, 2025 at 8:30 AM
The #TaungChild has been silent for over 2 million years — until now.
Our new podcast takes you back to 1924 #SouthAfrica, where one fossil would upend colonial narratives to centre human origins #Africa.
🌍Unburied Season 2: The Taung Child
🔗 Listen: linktr.ee/arcdocs
Our new podcast takes you back to 1924 #SouthAfrica, where one fossil would upend colonial narratives to centre human origins #Africa.
🌍Unburied Season 2: The Taung Child
🔗 Listen: linktr.ee/arcdocs
HERI made a podcast! 🎧 With ARC DOCS we bring the #TaungChild story to life - not for academics but everyone interested in humanity.
Commemorate 100 years since the fossil centred human origins in #Africa by listening NOW!
Unburied Season 2🔗 Listen linktr.ee/arcdocs
Commemorate 100 years since the fossil centred human origins in #Africa by listening NOW!
Unburied Season 2🔗 Listen linktr.ee/arcdocs
September 29, 2025 at 4:20 PM
HERI made a podcast! 🎧 With ARC DOCS we bring the #TaungChild story to life - not for academics but everyone interested in humanity.
Commemorate 100 years since the fossil centred human origins in #Africa by listening NOW!
Unburied Season 2🔗 Listen linktr.ee/arcdocs
Commemorate 100 years since the fossil centred human origins in #Africa by listening NOW!
Unburied Season 2🔗 Listen linktr.ee/arcdocs
📍 Sunday morning at #campHERI, camping at the West Coast Fossil Park: Participants took part in a stone tool knapping exercise, engaging with ancient technologies through hands-on learning in an immersive outdoor setting.
September 28, 2025 at 11:45 AM
📍 Sunday morning at #campHERI, camping at the West Coast Fossil Park: Participants took part in a stone tool knapping exercise, engaging with ancient technologies through hands-on learning in an immersive outdoor setting.
This sexual harassment workshop, led by our Co-director Rebecca Ackermann, is one of the most important parts of #campHERI.
The session invites women to share experiences, learnings and concerns about harassment in the field.
The session invites women to share experiences, learnings and concerns about harassment in the field.
September 27, 2025 at 8:45 AM
This sexual harassment workshop, led by our Co-director Rebecca Ackermann, is one of the most important parts of #campHERI.
The session invites women to share experiences, learnings and concerns about harassment in the field.
The session invites women to share experiences, learnings and concerns about harassment in the field.
How does a #PhD student condense years of research into a three-minute presentation? #campHERI is thrilled to have @kerrynwarren show us how!
Kerryn is the past winner of the @3MT_official competition Science category for her work in #archaeology.
#campHeri
Kerryn is the past winner of the @3MT_official competition Science category for her work in #archaeology.
#campHeri
September 26, 2025 at 12:00 PM
How does a #PhD student condense years of research into a three-minute presentation? #campHERI is thrilled to have @kerrynwarren show us how!
Kerryn is the past winner of the @3MT_official competition Science category for her work in #archaeology.
#campHeri
Kerryn is the past winner of the @3MT_official competition Science category for her work in #archaeology.
#campHeri
#campHERI is here! Today is the start of our annual camp that gives students from UCT and partner institutions a safe and supportive environment to develop skills, build community & address challenges faced in field-based sciences.
September 26, 2025 at 8:15 AM
#campHERI is here! Today is the start of our annual camp that gives students from UCT and partner institutions a safe and supportive environment to develop skills, build community & address challenges faced in field-based sciences.
📢 Podcast news! The #TaungChild proved our roots lie in #Africa but its story is tangled in colonial bias & forgotten voices.
Listen to the full story with Unburied Podcast Season 2 from HERI and ARC DOCS
🎧 Unburied Season 2 Episode 1 out NOW
📆 New Episodes on Thursdays
🔗 Listen linktr.ee/arcdocs
Listen to the full story with Unburied Podcast Season 2 from HERI and ARC DOCS
🎧 Unburied Season 2 Episode 1 out NOW
📆 New Episodes on Thursdays
🔗 Listen linktr.ee/arcdocs
September 25, 2025 at 3:30 PM
📢 Podcast news! The #TaungChild proved our roots lie in #Africa but its story is tangled in colonial bias & forgotten voices.
Listen to the full story with Unburied Podcast Season 2 from HERI and ARC DOCS
🎧 Unburied Season 2 Episode 1 out NOW
📆 New Episodes on Thursdays
🔗 Listen linktr.ee/arcdocs
Listen to the full story with Unburied Podcast Season 2 from HERI and ARC DOCS
🎧 Unburied Season 2 Episode 1 out NOW
📆 New Episodes on Thursdays
🔗 Listen linktr.ee/arcdocs
This is HERi Member Linda Mbeki!
She gave the #BABAO2025 keynote titled: From bones to ancestors: Embodiment, structural violence & social justice.
The lecture explored past practices in #archaeology with reflections on how #research in the future can be done with - and not on - communities.
She gave the #BABAO2025 keynote titled: From bones to ancestors: Embodiment, structural violence & social justice.
The lecture explored past practices in #archaeology with reflections on how #research in the future can be done with - and not on - communities.
KEYNOTE 2
To round off Day 2 of #BABAO2025, we have our second Keynote Lecture:
Linda Mbeki discusses their research on ‘From bones to ancestors: Embodiment, structural violence, and social justice’ 👩🏿🦱⛓️⚖️
To round off Day 2 of #BABAO2025, we have our second Keynote Lecture:
Linda Mbeki discusses their research on ‘From bones to ancestors: Embodiment, structural violence, and social justice’ 👩🏿🦱⛓️⚖️
September 22, 2025 at 8:25 AM
This is HERi Member Linda Mbeki!
She gave the #BABAO2025 keynote titled: From bones to ancestors: Embodiment, structural violence & social justice.
The lecture explored past practices in #archaeology with reflections on how #research in the future can be done with - and not on - communities.
She gave the #BABAO2025 keynote titled: From bones to ancestors: Embodiment, structural violence & social justice.
The lecture explored past practices in #archaeology with reflections on how #research in the future can be done with - and not on - communities.
Dominant theories of #humanevolution say our ancestors evolved behaviours seen as ‘modern’ 100,000 years ago along the #SouthAfrican coast. What if we could flip that narrative?
HERI researchers did just that in 2021 with this @nature.com paper: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
HERI researchers did just that in 2021 with this @nature.com paper: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
September 3, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Dominant theories of #humanevolution say our ancestors evolved behaviours seen as ‘modern’ 100,000 years ago along the #SouthAfrican coast. What if we could flip that narrative?
HERI researchers did just that in 2021 with this @nature.com paper: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
HERI researchers did just that in 2021 with this @nature.com paper: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Researchers including HERI's Dr Palesa Madupe have opened a new window into #humanevolution studies.
Using palaeoproteomics, they uncovered some of the oldest human genetic data from #Africa - sparking an exciting future for early hominin research.
Using palaeoproteomics, they uncovered some of the oldest human genetic data from #Africa - sparking an exciting future for early hominin research.
New clues from 2 million-year-old tooth enamel tell us more about an ancient relative of humans — HERI - Human Evolution Research Institute
Researchers including HERI's Dr Palesa Madupe experienced a breakthrough when they extracted ancient proteins from the enamel of the 2-million-year-old teeth of four P. robustus fossils. The results…
www.heriuct.co.za
August 27, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Researchers including HERI's Dr Palesa Madupe have opened a new window into #humanevolution studies.
Using palaeoproteomics, they uncovered some of the oldest human genetic data from #Africa - sparking an exciting future for early hominin research.
Using palaeoproteomics, they uncovered some of the oldest human genetic data from #Africa - sparking an exciting future for early hominin research.
This is what #womeninscience look like!
Our @drpeechiwara.bsky.social is extracting a quartzite block to be geochemically tested. Part of her #postdoc field work, the aim is to pinpoint where raw materials used to make ESA & MSA stone tools in Kalahari of #SouthAfrica were obtained.
Our @drpeechiwara.bsky.social is extracting a quartzite block to be geochemically tested. Part of her #postdoc field work, the aim is to pinpoint where raw materials used to make ESA & MSA stone tools in Kalahari of #SouthAfrica were obtained.
August 20, 2025 at 11:22 AM
This is what #womeninscience look like!
Our @drpeechiwara.bsky.social is extracting a quartzite block to be geochemically tested. Part of her #postdoc field work, the aim is to pinpoint where raw materials used to make ESA & MSA stone tools in Kalahari of #SouthAfrica were obtained.
Our @drpeechiwara.bsky.social is extracting a quartzite block to be geochemically tested. Part of her #postdoc field work, the aim is to pinpoint where raw materials used to make ESA & MSA stone tools in Kalahari of #SouthAfrica were obtained.
Palaeoanthropology asks profound questions: Who are we? What makes us human? Too often, answering these answers has been done by a privileged few.
Our Rebecca Ackermann calls for that to change - toward feminist palaeoanthropology. #diversityinscience
Our Rebecca Ackermann calls for that to change - toward feminist palaeoanthropology. #diversityinscience
We need a feminist palaeoanthropology that finally listens to all of us — HERI - Human Evolution Research Institute
Palaeoanthropology asks profound questions: Who are we? What makes us human? Too often, answering these answers has been done by a privileged few. HERi Co-director Prof Rebecca Ackermann calls for…
www.heriuct.co.za
August 13, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Palaeoanthropology asks profound questions: Who are we? What makes us human? Too often, answering these answers has been done by a privileged few.
Our Rebecca Ackermann calls for that to change - toward feminist palaeoanthropology. #diversityinscience
Our Rebecca Ackermann calls for that to change - toward feminist palaeoanthropology. #diversityinscience
Our Robyn Pickering has spent the past decade refining radiometric dating of fossils from flowstones.
The work has enabled researchers to date cave sites in #SouthAfrica -- and supports theories that at least two types of hominins co-existed.
Read more: www.science.org/content/arti...
The work has enabled researchers to date cave sites in #SouthAfrica -- and supports theories that at least two types of hominins co-existed.
Read more: www.science.org/content/arti...
Three ancient human relatives once shared the same valley. Did they meet—and compete?
The world’s greatest concentration of ancestral human remains, in South Africa, poses a 2-million-year-old riddle of coexistence
www.science.org
August 4, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Our Robyn Pickering has spent the past decade refining radiometric dating of fossils from flowstones.
The work has enabled researchers to date cave sites in #SouthAfrica -- and supports theories that at least two types of hominins co-existed.
Read more: www.science.org/content/arti...
The work has enabled researchers to date cave sites in #SouthAfrica -- and supports theories that at least two types of hominins co-existed.
Read more: www.science.org/content/arti...
In 1908 Austrian Dr Rudolf Pöch took remains of indigenous people from the Kalahari region & used the bones for race science.
Unburied - the NEW podcast from Iziko Museums #SouthAfrica - explores how this shaped the lives of indigenous communities here & globally
🔊👇🏾https://www.arcdocs.org/unburied
Unburied - the NEW podcast from Iziko Museums #SouthAfrica - explores how this shaped the lives of indigenous communities here & globally
🔊👇🏾https://www.arcdocs.org/unburied
June 11, 2025 at 1:39 PM
In 1908 Austrian Dr Rudolf Pöch took remains of indigenous people from the Kalahari region & used the bones for race science.
Unburied - the NEW podcast from Iziko Museums #SouthAfrica - explores how this shaped the lives of indigenous communities here & globally
🔊👇🏾https://www.arcdocs.org/unburied
Unburied - the NEW podcast from Iziko Museums #SouthAfrica - explores how this shaped the lives of indigenous communities here & globally
🔊👇🏾https://www.arcdocs.org/unburied
Reposted by Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...
Sent with my Daily Maverick App (app.dailymaverick.co.za)
@heriuct.bsky.social
Sent with my Daily Maverick App (app.dailymaverick.co.za)
@heriuct.bsky.social
Ancient protein from pre-human teeth reveals secrets of human evolutionary tree
Researchers have extracted 2 million-year-old protein remains from ancient pre-human teeth to reveal biological sex and genetic variability.
www.dailymaverick.co.za
May 29, 2025 at 9:27 PM
www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025...
Sent with my Daily Maverick App (app.dailymaverick.co.za)
@heriuct.bsky.social
Sent with my Daily Maverick App (app.dailymaverick.co.za)
@heriuct.bsky.social
Reposted by Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town
Enamel proteins reveal biological sex and genetic variability in southern African Paranthropus www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Enamel proteins reveal biological sex and genetic variability in southern African Paranthropus
Paranthropus robustus is a morphologically well-documented Early Pleistocene hominin species from southern Africa with no genetic evidence reported so far. In this work, we describe the mass spectrome...
www.science.org
May 30, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Enamel proteins reveal biological sex and genetic variability in southern African Paranthropus www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
🧬NEW: Our Dr Palesa Madupe & colleagues retrieved some of the oldest human genetic data from #Africa
They identify 2million year-old protein remains from Paranthropus robustus to reveal its biological sex & genetic variability
Read about this breakthrough in human evolution studies: bit.ly/3HiOgqP
They identify 2million year-old protein remains from Paranthropus robustus to reveal its biological sex & genetic variability
Read about this breakthrough in human evolution studies: bit.ly/3HiOgqP
Ancient genetic data reveals biological sex and genetic variability of Paranthropus robustus — HERI - Human Evolution Research Institute
Using a technique called palaeoproteomics, researchers extracted 2-million-year-old protein remains from Paranthropus robustus teeth to reveal biological sex and genetic variability.
bit.ly
May 30, 2025 at 10:46 AM
🧬NEW: Our Dr Palesa Madupe & colleagues retrieved some of the oldest human genetic data from #Africa
They identify 2million year-old protein remains from Paranthropus robustus to reveal its biological sex & genetic variability
Read about this breakthrough in human evolution studies: bit.ly/3HiOgqP
They identify 2million year-old protein remains from Paranthropus robustus to reveal its biological sex & genetic variability
Read about this breakthrough in human evolution studies: bit.ly/3HiOgqP