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Samuel Griffiths

I am a Ph.D. researcher at the University of Southampton and a member of the Centre for the Archaeology of Human Origins. My research is currently concentrating on hominin interaction to climate and environment throughout the Pleistocene. I have become particularly interested with early human behaviour within the wider landscape, looking at habitat change and resource strategies connected. More specifically my Ph.D. research concentrates on the Quaternary record of Jersey and its connection with Northern France, using the paleoenvironmental record from archaeological sites such as La Cotte de St. Brelade and associated geology. This project is supervised by Dr. John McNabb (Advisor Dr. Matt Pope, UCL & QAEJ) and look to tie this evidence in with behavioural evidence associated with lithic analysis.

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Postcard from South Africa #4.

Wednesday 6th May. Today we make the long drive from the border down to the south of Kruger and sadly neither Clare nor I are able to share in the driving so it is all on poor Johan, but he is very laid back about it all. As you’ll expect from me by now, the prospect of a long drive across South Africa is something I am looking forward to. But first a real treat. A bush walk with Brigitta who showed us Koaxa’s Shelter yesterday. Continue reading →

Postcard from South Africa #3

Tuesday 5th May. We were supposed to have an early start this morning so we could make good time as we head north for the border – guess who blew it! Yup yours truly set the alarm wrong. A timely call from Clare who couldn’t quite hold back the giggling got me out of bed and off to breakfast in a hurry. Johan bundled me and my stuff into the bus and off we went. Once again the drive was an instruction as Johan filled in all the gaps in the landscape with stories and titbits of local history. Continue reading →

Postcard from South Africa #2.

Monday 4th May. Another emotional day in South Africa. We drove up from Joburg this morning heading for Mokopane and the archaeological and palaeontological sites at Makapansgat, now known as Makapan. The name will need little introduction to human origins students. The Limeworks cave is famous throughout the world. It was here that Raymond Dart identified Australopithecus prometheus, a fire using Australopith, later reclassified as A. africanus. Continue reading →

Postcard from South Africa, #1.

Saturday 2nd May. I’m here in South Africa helping Andante Travels, who specialise in heritage and historical tourism, design a tour that would reflect some of the key aspects of South Africa’s rich archaeological heritage. It goes without saying that no tour could ever hope to fully reflect the sheer scale and diversity of this beautiful country and its history. So our job is to pick a few key moments from it. Continue reading →

Update from Tanzania by Dr. John McNabb: A postcard from Africa 4

Sadly this is my last postcard from Africa. We had a quiet weekend reading and discussing various plans for the future. Today (Monday 5th) on the other hand was a busy one. Pastory, James and I had a productive meeting this morning with colleagues and collaborators from the National Museum. @JamesColeArch with a Large LCT at the National Museum in Dar. This afternoon was another memorable one. Continue reading →

Update from Tanzania by Dr. John McNabb: A postcard from Africa 3

Today (Thursday 1st May) is a national holiday in Tanzania so James and I had a more relaxed day visiting the galleries of the National Museum of Tanzania. The museum is an impressive place with really up to date galleries on human evolution and rock art. I took a lot of photos which will make their way into my lectures. The ethnographic collection also impressed me with the range and variety of material on display, reflecting Tanzania’s rich cultural heritage both past and present. Continue reading →