The Blombos Museum of Archaeology,located in the historic Palinggat Homesteadd in Stilbaai, showcases world-renowned discoveries from the nearby Blombos Cave.

While the cave itself is a closed research site, the museum houses original artifacts and replicas that date back 70,000 to 100,000 years.

The World’s Oldest Art: A replica of a small piece of red ochre inscribed with a cross-hatched geometric pattern, dated to 75,000 years ago.

The World’s Oldest Necklace: Replicas of tiny Nassarius kraussianus (sea snail) shell beads. These shells were deliberately pierced and strung together as personal adornment roughly 75,000 years ago.

100,000-Year-Old Paint Workshop: Evidence of an ochre-processing kit found in abalone shells, showing early humans were mixed-media “chemists” who produced and stored liquid pigment.

Still Bay Points: Fine, leaf-shaped bifacial stone spear points made from silcrete. The museum displays examples showing early use of “pressure flaking” and heat treatment.

Rock Art Gallery: A collection featuring life-sized tracings and photographs of San rock art found in the Langeberg mountains and Hessequa region.

Survival & Diet Displays: Exhibits illustrating the Middle Stone Age diet, which included shellfish, fish, mammals, and edible fynbos.