Early humans in South Africa used grass to create bedding, 200 000 years ago

Professor Lyn Wadley from Wits University led an international team of archaeologists in the discovery that our South African ancestors living in Border Cave, used grass bedding to make their sleep and work spaces more comfortable. They also found evidence that this grass bedding was laid down on top of ash, which works as an insect repellant. Early plant use by humans is not well studied because of poor preservation over time, however Border Cave's unique ecosystem has allowed for excellent preservation of this material - providing further insight into the lives of early humans in these caves.

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