Article: Table Moun­tain – a story of deep time that is still being writ­ten

In this article earth scientist Professor John Compton invites readers to see Table Mountain not as a static landmark, but as a living geological story written over hundreds of millions of years. Tracing its origins from ancient sand grains eroded from long-vanished mountain ranges, through deep burial, immense pressure, continental collision and uplift, Professor Compton writes about how a prehistoric shoreline slowly transformed into the resilient sandstone massif that defines Cape Town today. What we recognise as Table Mountain, Compton explains, is the last enduring fragment of a far older and larger mountain system.

Beyond geology, the article offers up a “deep time” corrective to the anxiety of the present moment. Compton suggests that understanding Earth’s vast timescales fosters humility and perspective rather than apathy, reminding us that change is constant, survival is contingent, and beauty often emerges from unimaginable spans of time. Table Mountain becomes more than a wonderful view: it is a paused motion, quietly teaching patience, resilience and wonder to those willing to take the time.

Read the full article here.