iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Kgalagadi Human Origins Project @khoproject.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

The special issue based on our #SAfA2025 conference session is now open for submissions. Participation in the session is not a must 👇

011

Dr Precious Chiwara @drpeechiwara.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Check out our paper on late Holocene microlithic backed tools from Zimbabwe.

011

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Happy Heritage Day! Today, 24 September, entry to the Iziko South African Museum is FREE. If you’re in Cape Town, visit the beautiful Humanity exhibition, curated by the HERI team, and explore the story of human evolution. Learn more: www.heriuct.co.za/news-content...

043

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Ever wondered how archaeologists excavate? ⛏️ In the Kalahari, uncovering stone tools takes careful excavation, keen observation, and plenty of patience. Working through hard diatomite sediments, every layer removed reveals new clues about life thousands of years ago.

023

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

🎓 Congratulations to our HERI #AdvancingWomxn Fellow, Dr Rivoningo Khosa, on graduating with her PhD! This achievement reflects years of dedication, perseverance, and academic excellence. We are proud to celebrate this milestone with Rivoningo and wish her all the best for the journey ahead. 🎉

053

Dr Precious Chiwara @drpeechiwara.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

I’m incredibly pleased to be part of the HERI team that won the National Research Foundation (NRF) 2026 Science Team Award yesterday. It feels so good to have our work honoured and recognised through this prestigious award, and it means a lot, especially to early-career researchers like me.

010

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

📚 Whose voices shape our past? Drawing on her SAJS review of the book The Untold History and Prehistory of African Indigenous Palaeontology, @drpeechiwara.bsky.social reflects on representation, Indigenous knowledge, and the stories we tell about Africa's past. 🔗 www.heriuct.co.za/news-content...

084

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Our @pickeringrobyn.bsky.social was the second woman ever to deliver the Alex du Toit Memorial Lecture. Presented across 6 cities in #SouthAfrica, her lecture explores how uranium-series dating transformed our understanding of early human evolution. 🎥 Watch: www.heriuct.co.za/news-content...

062

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Our podcast is a model of what it looks like to place African voices at the centre of the #TaungChild fossil discovery, says Justin Pargeter in this SAJS review. 📖 Read the review & listen to all episodes of HERI's Unburied Season 2 FREE here: www.heriuct.co.za/news-content...

064

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

The future of palaeoscience in #Africa is African🌍 Read this reflection from HERI master’s students Kelly-Anne Shaw & Kirsten Van Der Heyden - who travelled to Kanapoi and Chesowanja in #Kenya as part of a field exchange organised by the PANACHE initiative. www.heriuct.co.za/news-content...

044

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

📢 New in the latest SAJS! Two contributions connected to HERI: 🎙️ Justin Pargeter reviews the Taung podcast 📚 Precious Chiwara reviews "The Untold History and Prehistory of African Indigenous Palaeontology." sajs.co.za/index.php/sa... sajs.co.za/index.php/sa... More details coming soon!

042

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

From the heart of Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, HERI researchers Marang Keebine and @drpeechiwara.bsky.social are helping uncover new evidence of early human behaviour in the #Kalahari. Every discovery adds another piece to our shared human story.

062

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Our HERI Co-Director, @pickeringrobyn.bsky.social, and HERI's @drpeechiwara.bsky.social presented two HERI talks at this week's #ASAPA conference on the Taung Podcast and HERI's All-Women Fieldwork Camp. It was great to hear that these conversations were so well received and considered much needed.

052

Dr Precious Chiwara @drpeechiwara.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Countdown: Only 5 days to go until ASAPA! 🎉 We can’t wait to welcome everyone to our dedicated Kalahari session!

110

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Palesa @palaeoprotpalesa.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Hello Hello, If you have some downtime and want to read something excitingly odd, read on the enamel proteins of Homo naledi: www.cell.com/cell/fulltex... Working closely with Alberto, @clairekoenig.bsky.social, @ipatramanis.bsky.social, and the rest of our collaborators was just so wonderful.

cell.com

Proteomic analysis of dental enamel from 20 Homo naledi individuals shows no male markers

The morphological homogeneity of the middle Pleistocene hominin Homo naledi is reflected in its dental proteome, with no evidence supporting confident identification of male individuals, and the detec...

24223

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

🚨First-ever protein study of Homo Naledi teeth led by HERI’s Dr @palaeoprotpalesa.bsky.social finds zero male markers in 23 samples - suggesting all individuals analysed were female. A major step forward in studying sex differences in extinct species. 🔗 www.heriuct.co.za/news-content...

1218

Dr Precious Chiwara @drpeechiwara.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

It has been awesome learning some geochemistry at UCT Geological Sciences over the past two years and applying these techniques to answer questions about past human behavior in the Kalahari. Many thanks to Christel Tinguely for the training and for being so patient with me.

010

Dr Precious Chiwara @drpeechiwara.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

We can’t wait to welcome everyone to this special Kalahari 🏜️ session at ASAPA 2026! Looking forward to inspiring discussions, thought-provoking talks, and sharing exciting new research together. See you there!

060

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

🌍Have you seen the HUMANITY exhibition yet? Launched in partnership between HERI and Iziko Museum, it takes visitors on a journey that explores our diversity and how we became who we are today. More info here: bit.ly/4cNAzvI Open days & hours link: bit.ly/4issDRx

044

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

🐝Pollen can reveal ecosystem changes over time. Research led by HERI’s Dr. Tsilavo Razafimanantsoa uses modern pollen rain in #Madagascar to shed light on ancient pollen records - so we can better understand the origins of open ecosystems on the island. nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....

021

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Since 2019, HERI has run women-focused field camps for archaeology & geology students. Female-led and hands-on, they provide field skills, mentorship, and safe spaces—building confident, resilient researchers ready to study #Africa’s rich heritage.

01414

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

HERI-led research wins the SAJS (sajournalofscience.bsky.social) Outstanding Article Award 2025. Congratulations 🎉 to @palaeoprotpalesa.bsky.social and co-authors for receiving the award for their Australopithecus africanus palaeoproteomics paper. Read more: www.heriuct.co.za/news-content...

0156

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

Today it's a desert. 105,000 years ago, it held waterfalls & modern homo sapiens The @dailymaverick.co.za looks at work from an all-women team of HERI researchers who challenged theories of #humanevolution to show our ancestors lived in a water-rich Kalahari www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021...

051

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Assoc Prof Robyn Pickering @pickeringrobyn.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

4/5 of these talented young researchers are in my group 🤩🤩🤩 It’s so rewarding to see all these projects making it to publication. #brag #proudsupervisor

061

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Historic moment! A/Prof @pickeringrobyn.bsky.social, HERI Co-director, will deliver the 2026 Alex du Toit Lecture Series, the first female to do so since 1969. The series honours Alexander du Toit, a South African geology pioneer and early champion of continental drift theory. Dates on the flyer

051

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Last year, HERI contributed to the @SAJS special issue marking 100 years of the #TaungChild. With abstracts in #Setswana, the issue gave multilingual insights into science, colonialism & exclusion. Read more reflections from the SAJS Editor-in-Chief: mailchi.mp/assaf/gknccq...

011

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Thrilled to share that the 2025 SAJS paper with the highest attention score was led by our @palaeoprotpalesa.bsky.social, with nearly 4,000 abstract views! The study identified 2 Myr-old proteins from Paranthropus robustus, revealing biological sex & genetic variability sajs.co.za/article/view...

073

Dr Precious Chiwara @drpeechiwara.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Reminder: ASAPA abstract deadline 31 Jan ⏰ We invite abstracts for our session on the Pleistocene record of the Kalahari and interior southern Africa, including comparative studies with other regions of southern Africa or Africa. Submit via the ASAPA portal: asapa2026.co.za/submissions....

054

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

Imagine surviving in the Kalahari thousands of years ago—one of #Africa’s driest environments. Evidence shows that early humans didn’t just endure it; they adapted with remarkable skill. 🔗 www.heriuct.co.za/news-content/surviving-the-drylands-stone-tools-as-evidence-of-early-social-networks

083

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

New work by HERI's @drpeechiwara.bsky.social & colleagues reviews Middle Stone Age evidence in #Africa to explore how early humans built complex social networks Looking at context & patterns, the paper sheds light on the deep roots of human cooperation & collaboration. doi.org/10.17159/saj...

094

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

Women in science in #Africa 🌍 Christina Mutinda, a HERI PhD candidate at @UCT_news, explores how early humans adapted to changing environments. Using fossils, isotopes and ecological clues, she reconstructs East Africa’s Early Pleistocene habitats, when Paranthropus boisei roamed.

02710

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

HERI’s Dr Rieneke Weij has led a rare update of U-Th & U-Pb dating in palaeoscience. Published with our Dr Tara Edwards, the review highlights advances & potential for carbonate geochronology — and the implications for #humanevolution research. www.heriuct.co.za/news-content...

083

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

A great step forward for Kalahari archaeology. @drpeechiwara.bsky.social and the team’s work offer important new insights into early Homo sapiens technological choices in interior southern Africa.

021

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

105,000 years ago, Homo sapiens left their mark at Gamohana Hill North Rockshelter in the Kalahari. They crafted points from galaxy tuff, a 2.4-billion-year-old glass-like stone. Not just a rock, but evidence of skill, planning, and ingenuity. 📖 Read more at www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

1196

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

HERI’s Drs @drpeechiwara.bsky.social & Ben Schoville are organising a session at ASAPA 2026 on Pleistocene adaptations in the Kalahari and other interior drylands of southern Africa. Researchers working in these regions are invited to submit abstracts and join the discussion. asapa2026.co.za

041

Dr Precious Chiwara @drpeechiwara.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

New publication alert!‼️ Wrapping up 2025 with my fifth paper of the year in the SAJS! The paper reviews how stone tools reveal social connections, noting similar patterns can also arise independently and suggesting ways to better distinguish the two. 💫 🔗 doi.org/10.17159/saj...

0105

Dr Precious Chiwara @drpeechiwara.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

ASAPA 2026 Call for Abstracts is open! Ben Schoville and I are organising a session on Pleistocene adaptations in the Kalahari and other interior drylands of southern Africa. Working in these landscapes? We’d love your contribution. Submit here: asapa2026.co.za Deadline: 31 Jan 2026

031

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

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/...

083

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

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...

095

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

🦴 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

0114

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Science is stronger when every voice is heard. At HERI, diversity drives discovery, challenges assumptions, and creates richer stories of our shared human story.

062

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

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...

054

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

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.

051

Reposted by Dr Precious Chiwara

Human Evolution Research Institute at University of Cape Town @heriuct.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

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.

053