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Site and People records
Des Valley Dam VII
Site
Brief description of site: The site is up a hill just before the summit, facing west southwest. There is no rich deposit and no artifacts were visible.
Diwa I
Site
Brief description of site: The site is on a boulder on the western side of Diwa hill in a small area massed with boulders. On its western side, low down, it recesses to form a small sheltered area. This is secluded by vegetation but is otherwise poorly protected. The site has impressive view into Mozambique to west
Brief description of art: The art consists of a set of concentric circles and a set of parallel vertical lines. The surface is not well protected and all the motifs are now faint. There may originally have been more designs that have now been destroyed.
Diwa II
Site
Brief description of site: The site is a large prominent boulder at the north-west corner of Diwa Hill and it bulges out impressively towards the top to create a large protected rock surface. The floor area is flat and shaded but the rock is convex making all sides exposed. It may originally have been better protected by vegetation and has a good view to north and is easily accessible.
Brief description of art: The art consists of a large panel of images and many are well preserved. The images include: concentric circles, concentric circles with externally radiating lines, circles with externally radiating lines, concentric circles with externally attached half circles. There are also sets of long parallel vertical lines one set partially crossed by horizontal lines, various short vertical and horizontal sausage shapes with multiple internal divisions. A vertical meander, a long vertical line crossed by an upward curving horizontal line and 3 more complex geometric motifs. All the images were applied by finger in red.
Diwa IV
Site
Brief description of site: The shelter is on a low concealed rock shelter that is recessed under a boulder high on the eastern side of Diwa Hill. It is quite small shelter but could have been used as habitation. It has good views to west as far as the lake-shore. Relatively easily accessible, but not easy to see even from close by.
Brief description of art: Lichen has grown over much of surface partially covering some of the images. All the motifs were applied by finger in red. The images include: a grid of dots, a circle, a circle with 2 internal vertical divisions, a circle with 4 internal vertical divisions, a set of parallel lines joined at top, bottom and centre by horizontal lines and another the same but parallel horizontal lines. There is also a sausage shape with multiple horizontal divisions and a half circle open at top with externally radiating lines from base
Diwa V
Site
Brief description of site: The site is a large recessed shelter with only a small opening and is very well protected and ideal for habitation. It is high on the eastern side of Diwa Hill and access is arduous. The shelter is only visible from nearby with a spectacular panorama view over the edge of the escarpment down to the lake
Brief description of art: The art consists of some images at the entrance and some inside the shelter. We were able to see the entrance images even from the base of the hill. Those images at the entrance include 3 vertical meanders, and various curving and joined lines. Inside there are sets of concentric circles decorating natural circular rock recesses in side walls and some sets of kinked parallel lines on a portion of the ceiling. All the images were applied by finger in red.
Diwa VI
Site
Brief description of site: The site is on a large boulder with a prominent overhang. It is 40m south MAL-DIW5 with a similar outlook and positioning. The site is well shaded but exposed and the rock surface has been extensively graffitied by local children
Brief description of art: There are only a few motifs that survived on the ceiling and most of the surface is damaged by fire and graffiti. The images that survived contain 2 sets of concentric circles, a set of parallel lines, a few rows of dots and concentric half circles with an internal grid. All the images were applied by finger in red.
Diwa VII
Site
Brief description of site: A boulder near the base of Diwa hill at its south-east corner. Leaning slightly to provide protection to surface but no shade or shelter. Outlook into rocks and small valley area. Easily accessible.
Brief description of art: Most of surface rough and washed by water. All that survives are a few vertical lines applied by finger in red.
Diwa VIII
Site
Brief description of site: A large shelter protected by long wide overhang in a large isolated boulder on the western side of Diwa hill. Protected by screen of vegetation, would make a large and good habitation site. Much sign of human activity including pottery, quartz flakes, iron slag and
modern refuse. Most of ceiling and wall blackened by soot, many pictographs may have been covered over. Fine views to west, easily accessible but not obvious until close.
Brief description of art: 3 concentric circles, a circle with externally radiating lines, various sets of parallel vertical lines, a horizontal sausage shape with multiple horizontal divisions, a stretched circle with multiple vertical internal divisions, also various short lines and curved
lines. All applied by finger in red. With these designs are three outline spread-eagled designs in red. These motifs do not have parallels in Dedza area, more closely relate to eastern Zambia. I could not decide at the site whether or not they had been filled with
white, the area of rock inside seem to be lighter in colour but there was little sign of white pigment. Detailed photos suggest that there is some white fill.
Dzenza I
Site
Brief description of site: The site is on the Western end of Kasandama Hill and about a third of the way up the slope under a large boulder. The site faces South West into trees. Beyond the trees is an impressive view over the valley to the hill beyond. The site provides a cool rest point protected enough to have been suitable for habitation. It is quite well hidden despite the easy access. The site is called the rock of the echo.
Brief description of art: Preservation varies and in some places, the white figures are clear but the red filling has become faint. In other images the red is clear but the white filling is now faint. The bottom section of the panel is almost totally rubbed away by animals. Almost all the images seem to be bichrome.