Keneiloe Molopyane (born in 1987 in Benoni) is a South African biological archaeologist and paleoanthropologist.[1][2][3] As of 2023 she was lead excavator at Rising Star Cave and is a researcher at Centre for Exploration of the Deep Human Journey at the University of the Witwatersrand. She was named an "emerging explorer" by the National Geographic Society and an invited member of 50 Club Explorers.
Biography
editInspired by watching and episode of Tintin with an archaeology themeon television when she was seven years old,[2] Molopyane began studying archaeology at the University of Pretoria, and later completed a master's degree in archaeobiology at the University of York. In 2021 she completed a doctoral thesis in biological anthropology at University of the Witwatersrand.[4][5]
As of 2023 she was lead excavator at Rising Star Cave and is a researcher at Centre for Exploration of the Deep Human Journey at the University of the Witwatersrand.[6] Associated with the university she is working is Principal Investigator at Gladysvale Cave, analysing the fossil assemblage.[7] In 2022 she brought contestants for Miss South Africa to Gladysvale to educate them about South African archaeology and its impact on how we understand early human evolution.[8]
Recognition
editIn 2021, Molopyane was named an "emerging explorer" by the National Geographic Society.[4][5] In 2023 she became an invited member of 50 Club Explorers.[6][9] She is the inspirations for a character named 'Bones' in a comic book series Super Scientist.[6] As a woman of colour she has pioneered representation in archaeology in South Africa, by being the first woman of colour to hold the role of Principal Investigator at Gladysvale Cave.[6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Bones - Keneiloe Molopyane". Super Scientists. 23 August 2021.
- ^ a b "What it's like to be an 'underground astronaut' in South Africa's Cradle of Humankind". CNN. 29 June 2021.
- ^ "Meet the next generation of National Geographic Explorers". Culture. 2024-10-20. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ^ a b "KENEILOE MOLOPYANE". National Geographic.
- ^ a b "Dr Keneiloe Molopyane: EFK student turned Explorer". WP.AC.ZA.
- ^ a b c d "Keneiloe Molopyane". The Explorers Club 50. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ^ Brits, Elsabe (2023-02-12). "Breaking down barriers". Nature Africa. doi:10.1038/d44148-023-00045-y.
- ^ "Miss SA 2022 finalists learn about the origins of humankind at last group function before pageant finale". News24. 27 June 2022.
- ^ "2023-02 - Wits researcher invited into her second exclusive global explorers club - Wits University". www.wits.ac.za. Retrieved 2024-10-20.