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Monday 08:30 - 16:30 Tuesday 08:30 - 16:30 Wednesday 08:30 - 16:30 Thursday 08:30 - 16:30 Friday 08:30 - 16:30

Human Evolution Research Institute, University of Cape Town

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Human Evolution Research Institute, University of Cape Town

The Human Evolution Research Institute (HERI) at UCT. Driving transformative research on human orig

HERI drives African-led research on human evolution at UCT and across the continent. We believe that with diverse teams, we can ask deeper questions and get better answers to our origin story. The result can lead to a better understanding of our past and a greater appreciation of human diversity. Our research focuses on questions of human biological and cultural evolution on many levels and across a wide time period. Our multidisciplinary teams investigate fossil records, the role of hybridisation in evolution, understanding the origins of modern human behaviour and dating Africa’s fossil and archaeological sites, as well as understanding how changing climates and environments shaped us. We also host leading figures in the palaeosciences at our space on the UCT campus for talks, teas and workshops. We encourage interdisciplinary exchange and cooperation in our research, our collaborations and our communication.

24/09/2026

Today, on Heritage Day, 24 September, entry to the Iziko Museums of South Africa is FREE!

If you’re in Cape Town, this is a great opportunity to visit the museum, have a look at the beautiful Humanity exhibition curated by the HERI team, and explore the fascinating story of human evolution.

A perfect way to spend Heritage Day!

Learn more about the Humanity exhibition:
https://www.heriuct.co.za/news-content/humanity-exhibition-honoured-by-university-of-cape-town

23/09/2026

🦴It’s been over 30 years since the last major synthesis on Paranthropus.

A new Springer volume, The Palaeobiology of Paranthropus, changes that - with key contributions from HERI experts that add to modern discoveries, cutting-edge methods, and unanswered questions surrounding this 2.6-to-1.2-million-year-old hominin.

💬 "Paranthropus is one of the great questions of human evolution. While technological advances over the past 20 years have shed more light on its evolution, big questions remain,” says HERI Co-Director Robyn Pickering.

HERI scientists provide insights into:
▫️ The evolutionary drivers of Paranthropus’ unique skull and jaw features
▫️ Breakthroughs in dating methods that clarify the chronological timeline of fossil sites across southern Africa

📖 Read the full story: https://www.heriuct.co.za/news-content/new-book-with-heri-contributions-presents-latest-paranthropus-research-and-remaining-questions

📚Explore the Springer Book: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-032-05485-2

16/09/2026

Ever wondered how archaeologists excavate? ⛏️ This is what it looks like in the Kalahari: careful excavation, keen observation, and plenty of patience.

Working through hard diatomite sediments, researchers painstakingly uncover stone tools hidden beneath the surface. Every layer removed reveals new clues about the people who once lived in this landscape thousands of years ago.

14/09/2026

From the NRF stage to the field! 🪨🔎 Our team is back in the field, continuing the work of keeping all eyes on South African palaeoscience. 🇿🇦 From celebrating our research on the NRF stage to getting our boots on the ground, it’s all part of the work of understanding South Africa’s deep past.

And sometimes, the best discoveries are hidden in the rocks!

09/09/2026

Congratulations to our HERI Fellow, Dr Rivoningo Khosa, who graduated with her PhD from the University of Cape Town yesterday. 🎓

This outstanding achievement reflects years of dedication, perseverance, and academic excellence. We are proud to celebrate this important milestone with Rivoningo.

Well done, Dr Khosa, and best wishes for the journey ahead. 🎉

04/09/2026

🎉 HERI news! We are proud to last night accept the National Research Foundation (NRF) Science Team Award, recognising our collaborative research extending the boundaries of science across Africa.

“This award honours HERI’s scientific excellence and our commitment to transforming how human origins research is done,” says HERI Co-Director Rebecca Ackermann.

The award acknowledges key team members including Co-directors Ackermann and Robyn Pickering, Wendy Black, Precious Chiwara, Tara Edwards, Palesa Madupe, and Lauren Schroeder, as well as the contributions of HERI’s research associates, postdocs and students.

🎉 https://www.heriuct.co.za/news-content/heri-receives-prestigious-nrf-2026-science-team-award

02/09/2026

Our shines on UCT Master's student Keane Wanza, whose research uses palaeoproteomics to uncover new insights into early human evolution 🧬

Working on fossil material from Hadar and Omo in , Keane is part of a cutting-edge field that brings biomolecular evidence into palaeoscience. His journey has taken him from training in Copenhagen to fieldwork in and research in Addis Ababa.

Driven by curiosity, inspired by his parents, and navigating the challenges of a pioneering field, Keane is helping shape the future of palaeoanthropology.

Read more: https://www.heriuct.co.za/news-content/herispotlight-keane-wanza

26/08/2026

🦴 Fossils from Africa

Did you know one of the oldest known Homo erectus skulls was discovered in ?

Dating back 2 million years, this remarkable fossil helped scientists rewrite part of the human story by showing that Homo erectus - an early human ancestor - appeared earlier than previously thought.

Discoveries like this remind us that Africa is at the heart of our shared human origins, with every new fossil shedding more light on where we came from.

Read more: https://www.heriuct.co.za/news-content/heri-researchers-make-fossil-discovery-that-rewrites-human-history

19/08/2026

📚 Who gets to tell the story of our past, and whose voices are still missing?

Reflecting on her South African Journal of Science review of the book The Untold History and Prehistory of African Indigenous Palaeontology, Precious Chiwara explores who gets recognised as a knowledge holder, whose voices remain overlooked, and why representation matters in telling Africa's scientific and historical stories.

👉 Read more: https://www.heriuct.co.za/news-content/beyond-the-book-precious-chiwara-maenzanise-on-voice-history-and-palaeontology-in-south-africa

12/08/2026

Our Robyn Pickering, the 2026 Alex du Toit Memorial Lecturer, is the second woman ever to deliver the Geological Society of South Africa's prestigious Alex du Toit Memorial Lecture.

Her lecture - presented across 6 cities in - explores how uranium-series dating has transformed our understanding of early human evolution, ancient environments, and the landscapes our ancestors inhabited.

🎥 Watch the lecture here: https://www.heriuct.co.za/news-content/watch-heris-associate-professor-robyn-pickering-presents-2026-alex-du-toit-memorial-lecture

Address

University Avenue, Upper Campus
Cape Town
7700

Opening Hours

Monday	08:30 - 16:30
Tuesday	08:30 - 16:30
Wednesday	08:30 - 16:30
Thursday	08:30 - 16:30
Friday	08:30 - 16:30

Telephone

+27 21 650 2353

Website

http://heriuct.co.za/

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