[2] It occurs in quartzitic sandstone in a butte that overlooks in an east direction 100 metres (330 ft) above the Verlorenvlei River.

[6] Some 270 fragments of ostrich eggshell containers have been found covered with engraved geometric patterns.

[1] The engraving consists of abstract linear repetitive patterns, including a hatched band motif.

"[1] Earlier finds exist of symbolism, such as the 75,000-year-old engraved ochre chunks found in the Blombos cave, but these are isolated and difficult to tell apart from meaningless doodles.

They may have had drinking spouts, holes to enable them to be strung as a canteen for easier carrying, and seem to have been part of "daily hunter-gatherer life".

"[3] The preservation of organic matter such as wood, grass, seeds and fruits at the site has been described as "exceptional".

The Howiesons Poort period shows evidence for thicket or shrubland vegetation now usually found in gorges, such as Diospyros, Cassine peragua, Maytenus, Rhus, and Hartogiella schinoides.

Most bones found in the cave come from rock hyrax, hares, cape dune mole-rats, steenbok and grysbok.

The sea coast seems to have moved up the river, as there are fragments from black mussels, granite limpets, and Cape fur seals.

[7] This gives the site Grade II status and provides it with protection under South African heritage law.