Origins Centre

The Origins Centre is a museum on the Wits University campus in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, Gauteng province, South Africa, devoted to the story of human origins and the rock art of Southern Africa. It is housed in a building on the university's West Campus and draws on the research of the Evolutionary Studies Institute and the Rock Art Research Institute. The exhibition follows a chronological path, beginning with the evolution of humans in Africa and the fossil discoveries from sites such as the Cradle of Humankind. Displays then move through early technology, symbolic behaviour, ochre engraving and beadwork, and on to the art and beliefs of the San and Khoekhoe peoples. Highlights include replicas and originals of rock art panels, engraved ochre from Blombos Cave, ostrich eggshell beads, and a display of San shamanic belief and trance imagery, with audiovisual presentations explaining the interpretation of the paintings. A section on the arrival of farming and later societies in Southern Africa covers the Iron Age, and contemporary displays consider the connections between ancient and modern cultures. The museum is compact, and most visitors spend around one and a half to two hours. It suits visitors who want context before or after visiting the Cradle of Humankind sites. Weekday mornings are quiet, and school groups occasionally visit on weekdays. Photography is generally allowed in most areas without flash, but some objects may be restricted. A small shop sells books and crafts. Braamfontein is close to Constitution Hill and Wits campus, so it is easy to combine, and Uber or Bolt is recommended after dark. The Gautrain to Park Station followed by a short ride is the standard public transport route.