The centre houses the most comprehensive archive of rock art in southern Africa.
It was specifically designed to store and display the collection of the Rock Art Research Institute (RARI).
Exhibits explain the 'cognitive revolution'—the period when humans developed the capacity for complex abstract thought.
The collection includes casts of the famous Taung Child fossil.
The centre features a specialized focus on shamanistic interpretations of San rock art and trance rituals.
The architectural design of the building itself incorporates themes inspired by archaeological stratigraphy.
Many of the digital exhibits allow users to zoom into microscopic details of ancient engravings that are invisible to the naked eye.
It hosts an extensive collection of archaeological data from the Sterkfontein Caves and other Cradle of Humankind sites.
The Origins Centre at Wits University is a research facility dedicated to the history of modern humans in Africa, with a specific focus on the evolution of art, symbolism, and technology. The museum houses a significant collection of rock art from the Rock Art Research Institute, featuring both original stone petroglyphs and high-quality digital reproductions. Its exhibits trace the development of human cognition and cultural expression starting from the Middle Stone Age. Visitors can explore the origins of ritual, language, and early social structures through interactive displays. The site serves as a vital repository for southern African San rock art, showcasing the deep cultural heritage of the region. The displays incorporate archaeological findings, including tools and fossil casts, to contextualize the artistic evolution of early humans. It is located on the campus of the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
The main entrance foyer with its large, stylized sculptural elements and the central hall featuring the rock art projection displays.
Download the digital guide or explore the available touch-screen terminals to fully understand the symbolic meaning behind the rock art.
Check the Wits University website for temporary research-led exhibitions that rotate through the gallery spaces.
Visit the gift shop for literature specifically focused on South African archaeology and indigenous history.
Assuming the exhibits are strictly chronological; the layout is thematic and requires reading the placards to follow the narrative flow.
Closed on Sundays and public holidays; occasionally closed for private university events or during inter-semester breaks.
Maintain a quiet volume; do not touch the original artifacts or stone petroglyphs.
