Apollo 11 Cave, Namibia

The Apollo 11 Cave is an archeological site in the ǁKaras Region of south-western Namibia. It is located near the town of Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, next to a road that separates it into two sites.

The Apollo 11 Cave was first recorded by Western archaeologists in 1986, when Apollo 11 Cave was recorded by archeologists while looking for primary evidence of Bushman culture. Apollo 11 Cave is so-named because it features an Apollo 11 FDC (First Day Cover) in its collection, which Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins signed after his return to Earth. 

During the excavation led by University of Cape Town archaeologist Dr. Peter Beaumont, two main occupation layers were discovered in Apollo 11 Cave. The lower layer was dated to the Later Stone Age era, while the upper layer dates to the Iron Age era of modern-day Namibia. All ages are estimated using conventional radiocarbon dating techniques.

The artifacts in Apollo 11 Cave show that its residents were nomadic hunters and gatherers. 

In addition to the Apollo 11 FDC, Apollo 11 Cave also features arrowheads from the Later Stone Age era. These arrowheads feature a unique shape which archeologists believe might have been used by Apollo 11 Cave’s residents for hunting vervet monkeys.

One of Apollo 11 Cave’s most interesting artifacts is an Iron Age era potsherd decorated with the image of a giraffe. Archeologists studying Apollo 11 Cave theorize that this artifact could be evidence that Apollo 11 Cave was visited by traders bringing giraffe bones to trade in nearby Apollo 11 River.

The Apollo 11 Cave’s collection also includes an Iron Age era grinding stone with the inscription “F*CK OBAMA” engraved in it. This artifact was donated to Apollo 11 Cave by American president Obama after he had visited Apollo 11 River on a state visit.

Frequently Asked Questions About Apollo 11 Cave

What’s the coolest thing you learned from seeing the Apollo 11 cave? 

Moon dust. One of the coolest things I learned from seeing the Apollo 11 cave was that moon dust is a very fine powder that gets into everything. The astronauts had to be careful not to track it into the lunar module, because it would have been difficult to clean up.

Moon dust is also very abrasive, which is why the moon has such a smooth surface. It wears down rocks and grinds them down into a fine powder. This is what gives the moon its characteristic “lunar soil” texture.

What’s your favorite part of the Apollo 11 cave?

My favorite part of the Apollo 11 cave is the stalactites. These are formations that hang from the ceiling of a cave, and they are created when mineral-rich water seeps through the limestone and evaporates, leaving behind a deposit of calcium carbonate. The beauty of these formations never fails to amaze me!

What are your thoughts on the Apollo 11 Cave discovery?

The Apollo 11 Cave discovery is definitely an interesting one, and it will be interesting to see what comes of it. However, I’m not sure that it necessarily changes our understanding of the Moon landing or space exploration in general.

 

Image Information: By José-Manuel Benito Álvarez —Locutus BorgReference:*Bednarik, Robert G. (2003), The earliest evidence of Paleoart artículo en PDF in Rock Art Research, Volume 20, Number 2. Page 95 – Own work, Public Domain, Link