Showing 564 results

Site and People records
Pygmy (Forest Hunter Gatherers, Batwa)
Chentcherere I
Site
Brief description of site: A large rock shelter with around 50m2 of protected floor. Facing west, low on the
southern slope of Mwana Wa Chencherere hill. Excavated in 1972 by J.D. Clark. Excellent
protection from rain though somewhat exposed to wind. A natural habitation site,
demonstrated as having been used as such by excavation.
Brief description of art: The back wall of the shelter is smothered in pictographs. Most areas are well
protected and relatively well preserved. A few areas are flaking due to water seepage,
towards the left end washing has removed an area of pictographs. The degree of protection
suggests that pictographs of considerable antiquity could survive here. The shelter is much
visited due to its notoriety, as a consequence all pictographs within reach have been blurred
by touching and rubbing. Too many pictographs to describe individually, see sketch. The
majority of pictographs are large daubed spread-eagled motifs applied in white. The size
and detailed shape of each spread-eagled motif varies. Also in daubed white are a few
snake-like meanders and a few simple geometric designs and dots. Earlier red designs
applied by finger can be made out underneath the white motifs in some places. These are
mainly circles and sets of parallel lines. Variations in shape, pigment and state of
preservation give the impression that the pictographs have built up over a considerable
period, painted by many different artists.
Chentcherere II
Site
Brief description of site: The site faces NW and looks into the forest now which was originally Chongoni Range. The site has a good view. The site is small but pleasant for shade as well as habitation, and is less obvious that MAL-CHN1.
Brief description of art: The main panel is poorly preserved, and the top section is very well preserved. It consists of an animal with a thin outline with dots over it. Two animals that are just visible. The central panel had many white but now almost invisible.
Chentcherere III
Site
Brief description of site: A boulder at the base of Mwana Wa Chencherere with a recess in its southern side. Recess deep enough to provide shade and protection but, with the two larger recessed shelters nearby, this seems unlikely to have been used for habitation. Looking into trees.
Brief description of art: Pictographs on back ledge of recess. Rock surface has been extensively graffitied during recent times with names and scribblings in charcoal. There are also a few outline zoomorphic designs in similar charcoal (nyau - kasiyamaliro). Now very faint having been damaged by extensive graffiti and fire, there are traces of a set of concentric circles and parallel lines, applied by finger in red.
Chentcherere IV
Site
Brief description of site: A boulder near the base of Mwana Wa Chencherere on its southern side behind
DE23. Boulder leans to the south providing a small sheltered area and a good protected
surface. Site not suited to habitation. Looking into DE23 and trees.
Brief description of art: A few spread-eagled designs, a snake-like meander and a set of parallel lines
applied by daubing in white. Also a row of circles applied by finger in red filled with white
(now faint) and other faint red traces. Some white designs over red stains, suggestive that
white is more recent. White motifs vary in style and standard of preservation. Suggestive of
execution by various artists over a long period oftime.
Chentcherere V
Site
Brief description of site: A small recessed shelter (12m2 of protected floor) half way up the western side of
Chencherere main hill. Shaded, secluded and protected with fine view to the west.
Excellent observation point for game movements in valley area to the west. Site ideal for
habitation. Roofheavily smoke blackened, suggesting much use.
Brief description of art: Back wall of shelter now smothered by recent graffiti in black charcoal. There
are a few outline zoomorpic designs also in charcoal (mostly nyau - kasiyamaliro). Under
these can be made out the faint remnants a few concentric circles and a sets of paralle1lines,
all applied by finger in red and filled with white. These earlier motifs may have been much
more extensive but appear mostly to have been destroyed.
Chibenthu II
Site
Brief description of site: A small boulder half way up the eastern slope of Chibenthu hill near its northern comer. Slightly overhanging providing a protected surface but no shade or shelter. View
into trees.
Brief description of art: A thick horizontal red line, the right hand end of which has been eroded. The left hand end has two short vertical bars attached to its base like legs.
Chibenthu III
Site
Brief description of site: A large boulder at the base of Chibenthu hill near its south-west comer. Boulder leans south-east providing a very large protected surface and pleasant shaded floor area. Protected surface looks into hillside.
Brief description of art: The surface is said to have been extensively covered by pictographs up until a few years ago. Then the protection provided by the rock was used to assist the making charcoal. This involves the creation of very hot fires and led to near total exfoliation of the painted rock surface. All that remains are a few traces oflines applied by finger in red.
Chigwenembe I
Site
Brief description of site: A small low recess on the eastern side of a very large and prominent boulder on the eastern side of Chigwenembe hill. Recess too small to provide shade or shelter, merely a protected surface.
Brief description of art: A large concentric circle with central horizontal bar, overlain by a few sets of parallel lines. To the right is a small grid. All are applied by finger in red.
Chigwenembe IV
Site
Brief description of site: A small boulder situated a few metres north of DE31. Overhang on southern side provides a small amount of shade. Little more than a protected rock surface. Looking into rocks and trees.
Brief description of art: A circle with externally radiating lines, an arrow shape and a circle. Daubed in white, now faint.