70,000-year-old python cave ritual site discovered in Botswana. Python Cave is located in the Sadillo Hills, Botswana Archaeologist Sheila Coulson led the study of this site The cave features a carved python with man-made cupule scratches representing scales
Sheila Coulson discovered Python Cave in Botswana's Sadillo Hills, revealing a 70,000-year-old ritual site featuring a carved python with cupule scratches for scales. Thousands of spear points and stone tools were intentionally burned and broken as offerings, decommissioned over generations. This is potentially the earliest proof of symbolic behavior and organized ritual among Homo sapiens, located near the Out of Africa migration route. The site aligns remarkably with San bushmen mythology about the great python creator. 🐍⛏️
Key Facts
- Python Cave is located in the Sadillo Hills, Botswana
- Archaeologist Sheila Coulson led the study of this site
- The cave features a carved python with man-made cupule scratches representing scales
- Thousands of spear points and stone tools were found, some intentionally burned or broken as ritual offerings
- Artifacts were ritually decommissioned over many generations
- Sheila Coulson suggests this represents the earliest proof of symbolic behavior and organized ritual among Homo sapiens
- The site is very near the Out of Africa migration hub
- Cross-referenced with living San bushmen mythology about the great python creator
Source: 70kya "Oldest Ritual Site" Beliefs Spread with Out of Africa? by Timeless with Fred Snyder