Showing 105 results

Site and People records
Chewa
Mchenga I
Site
Brief description of site: The site is on a large recessed shelter near the top of Mchenga hill. 30m2 of well protected and shaded floor, the site would make an ideal habitation. It is also well secluded and is not obvious until one gets close. Good views over Linthipe river valley to the north.
Brief description of art: The surface is flaking in a number of places and it is probable that more pictographs existed of which there is no trace now. There is a small spread-eagled design daubed in what looks like brown mud. Various short lines appearing in sets of 4 as a cross without
the central section, and vertical rows of short horizontal lines applied by finger in white. Also a set of vertical lines, 2 sets of horizontal lines and few thick short lines applied by finger in red. Over some of these are various outline zoomorphs in charcoal (nyau - mainly kasiyamaliro ).
Milonde I
Site
Brief description of site: A large recessed shelter (20m2) halfway up southern slope of Milonde hill. Excellently protected, would have made an ideal habitation site. Quite arduous but otherwise easy access. Shelter hidden from view by vegetation. Fine view over stream valley below and on to Chongoni-Narnzeze beyond.
Brief description of art: 2 spread-eagled designs, one of which appears to have been repainted several times, other decorated with black dots. Also 4 later white designs, two are zoomorphic but without legs (nyau - kasiyamaliro), third is similar but is outline filled with dots (probably
also nyau), the last is similar to third but with flat top (nyau??). Above these is an outline square. All are daubed in white. At left end is a red half circle open at top with multiple internal vertical divisions, decorated with white dots. Beside this are a set of concentric red half circles open to right with internal white fill. Also a set of parallel vertical lines, a circle
and a circle with single vertical internal division applied by finger in red.
Mkoma I
Site
Brief description of site: The site is in a large rock shelter in the east side of an isolated rock shelter rising 18m above the plain. The site faces ESE and contains a large number of paintings.
Brief description of art: The art consists of schematic bichrome designs in a dark reddish purple, yellow and white and includes grids as well as parallel lines.
Mphunzi I
Site
Brief description of site: The site is on a large but narrow passage formed where the boulder has split into two. It is on the east side of Mphunzi hill, near its base. The passage area is well protected and shaded by a high overhang, could have been used as a habitation but rather narrow. Outlook into vegetation and wet area in front. One of the earliest recorded sites in Malawi. Excavated in the 1920's but there appear to be no records from that excavation.
Brief description of art: Probably the largest number of red finger designs at one site. Too many motifs to describe individually. Mainly circles, concentric circles, sets of parallel vertical lines, vertical sausages with multiple internal vertical divisions, divided circles and stretched circles. Also various more complex linear designs. A single very faded daubed white zoomorph overlies the red designs near the centre of the panel.
Mphunzi III
Site
Brief description of site: The site is on a large outlying boulder on the western side of Mphunzi hill. There are 2 recessed hollows that are sunk into its south face, one is near ground level and the other a few meters up. Both have been painted on with limited shade or shelter with poor outlook, easily accessible.
Brief description of art: The art consists of a spread-eagled design, 2 snake-like meanders, 3 filled circles, one circular motif with protrusions at base. All the images are daubed in white in similar state of preservation. There is a daubed spread-eagled design decorated in black dots is under the above and some faint red finger lines are under all these. There are also 2 horizontal red finger applied lines filled with white, overlain by white daubed spread-eagled design. Also a complex motif applied by finger in white.
Mphunzi IV
Site
Brief description of site: A large boulder 100 metres south of MAL-MPH3 at base of Mphunzi hill. Overhang on west side provides limited shade and shelter. Possible small habitation site. Limited outlook, easily accessible. An old inhabitant from a nearby village remembered that this site had been an important local rain shrines at the start of this century.
Brief description of art: The images are all faded and damaged by fires. The images are of an extensive sequence containing red vertical finger applied lines overlain by many white daubed spread-eagled designs, all overlain by a large daubed cream colored cow-like zoomorph.
Mphunzi VII
Site
Brief description of site: A large recessed shelter half way up the eastern side of Mphunzi hill. Floor strewn with large boulders providing pleasant seating but making the shelter unsuitable for habitation. Fine view to the east. Shelter quite arduous of access and only visible from
relatively nearby.
Brief description of art: Ceiling covered in many and varied daubed white spread-eagled designs. Also a single white daubed chameleon. Many of the spread-eagled designs are decorated with black dots or short stripes.
Mphunzi VIII
Site
Brief description of site: A low boulder near the base of the south-east comer of Mphunzi hill. A wide overhang provides excellent shade and protection, ideal for habitation. Floor has extensive remains of small fires (modem) and whole shelter is soot blackened. No view, easily accessible.
Brief description of art: Much modem graffiti (some in oil paint). Originally a large painted panel, now mostly so badly damaged as to be unrecognisable. Most of what remains is smudged white pigment, some of which is clearly the remains of large spread-eagled daubed designs. A few red finger applied lines can be made out under the white.