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We reconstruct ancient worlds and the lives of the people who lived in them

The P5 Project is an interdisciplinary and multinational collaboration of researchers who use cutting-edge science to study human adaptations to coastal environments. Our research shows how humans have used coastlines for thousands of years to survive glacial and interglacial periods in the past. It also provides important information to preserve and protect the natural and cultural heritage found in these places today, giving the broader scientific community more information to understand human impacts on coastal environments to inform 21st century conservation strategies.

In Search of New Evidence

September 29, 2020

By erich.fisher

Mpondoland’s rugged landscape is difficult to traverse. Often, the only way around is by foot.
No shovels here

February 4, 2020

By erich.fisher

The P5 Project maps the 3D position of every artifact, bone, and sediment surface. The results provide unprecedented detail about how sites formed and the people who used them.
The Wild Coast

September 29, 2020

By erich.fisher

Mpondoland is part of the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt (IOCB) biome which in South Africa constitutes, stretching from Mozambique to the mouth of the Great Kei River. Waterfall Bluff rock shelter, seen here, is one of only nineteen waterfalls that empty directly into the ocean. .

Meet the P5 Executive Committee

Justin Pargeter

Co-Director and head of behavioral ecology.

Irene Esteban

Co-Director and head of paleoenvironmental sciences.

Hayley C. Cawthra

Co-Director and head of geosciences.

Erich C. Fisher

Founder and Co-Director of the P5 Project.

Our Latest Posts

Before Us: Life in the Field

August 5, 2020

By erich.fisher

The P5 team talks about mud, wind, ankles, and living in remote eastern Pondoland during field seasons.

Before Us: Site Mapping

August 5, 2020

By erich.fisher

Join P5 Project students from Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Australia as they talk about mapping archaeological sites using lasers.

Before Us: The Plants People Used

August 5, 2020

By erich.fisher

Join the P5 researchers as they talk about how they reconstruct ancient environments and the lives of the people who lived in them.

Stone Tools: A window into our cultural origins

February 19, 2020

By erich.fisher

Stone Tools: A window into our cultural origins Stone tools reflect archetypal human behaviors; they are pragmatic, the skills to make and use them are not genetically transmitted and must be learnt, and their production requires varying degrees of planning and problem-solving skills. They enable humans to do what cannot be accomplished with teeth and

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