Showing 267 results

Site and People records
KhoeKhoen (Khoi)
Schroda I 46 MS
Site

Brief description of site: This site is a high, deep cave with a deeper inner cave. The images are situated above the entrance to the inner cave. The view from the cave is extensive. The presence of a nearby dam suggests the presence of a fairly reliable watercourse in times past.

The site has some bone scatter, as well as quartzite and hornfels lithics. The soil is very stony, but the deposit is about 50cm deep.
Brief description of art: The engravings on the cave wall consist of grooves reminiscent of slash marks. They occur in three parts of the cave and number 5, 6 and 89 at each location respectively. Their length varies between 5-20cm, and they are up to 3cm wide. They appear very smoothly executed, but are patinated.

The painted imagery consists of a large grouping of finger dots as well as some finger painted red lines. Curious images include a large red 'sunburst' with short 'rays' around the outline and a cross motif at its centre. A finger painted white sunburst is much more faded.
Sherwood I 116
Site
Brief description of site: The RSA-SHW1 'site' comprises the 6,28 m x 3,92 m engraved rock plate and an adjacent rock plate on which a Mafuvha or Tsoro board has been engraved. An impressive Olien sp. Tree is located right next to the site and may well have been a factor in site choice. The site has a commanding view to the S and SE into the Viervoetberg. A small seasonal runnel is located to the E of the site, which is on the edge of a ridge. Apart from the adjacent engraved Mafuvha board, no other associated archaeology was found within a 20 m radius of the site. The site is, however, less than 1 km from an extensive concentration of stone walling; most of which is Late Iron Age.The engravings are almost certainly Late Iron Age in date and made by Sotho-speaking farmers at some point between 200 - 500 years ago.
Brief description of art: The engraved panel is large (5,96m x 2,75m) and complex with over 60 lines, circles and so on. The engravings have been pecked out of the soft Clarens Formation sandstone; some in infill technique and some in outline. Most of the lines are quite thick (up to 20 mm), though one 'wiggly' line is thin and may constitute another engraving episode. There appears to have been a conscious use of the edge of the rock plate as well as a natural stone basin by the Late Iron Age artist(s). A 50 mm thick layer of soil covered the eastern end of the engraved panel. The engravings that were under this soil layer are less well preserved than the exposed engravings.