Showing 105 results

Site and People records
Chewa
Mthusi I
Site
Brief description of site: The site is on a large shelter half way up western side of Mtusi Hill. Under a large boulder and not obvious until very close. Excellently protected, could have been used as habitation or hiding place. A kasiyamaliro was being stored at the site when we visited. View into rocks and trees. Arduous but simple access.
Brief description of art: The whole shelter quite blackened by soot. The images are on the back wall and on the ceiling, many are rather unclear and blackened. The images include: many spread-eagled designs, one remarkably large and fat, a snake-like meander all daubed in white. Also a set of concentric half-circles open at base applied by finger in white.
Mthusi II
Site
Brief description of site: The site is on a very large and impressive rock shelter (90m2) half way up western side of Mtusi hill. Would have made an ideal habitation site. Partially excavated by Mgomezulu in 1976. He found extensive evidence of usage including 4 short statured skeletons. The site is said to be still used for female initiation. Arduous but simple access with fine views to west.
Brief description of art: The art consists of many varied spread-eagled designs all daubed in white, the one on the ceiling is remarkable in size and has been repainted at least twice. Some of the images are heavily blackened by soot. At the left end of the shelter and there are a few red designs applied by finger including dots, short vertical lines, a concentric circle and a half circle open at top with single internal vertical division.
Mwala Wanjuchi II
Site
Brief description of site: Recessed shelter under large boulder on side of 'hill of the bees'. It is also the home of the bees! Shelter floor strewn with small rocks providing seating but precluding habitation. Fine views to north fairly easily accessible.
Brief description of art: A single spread-eagled executed entirely using dots applied by finger in white.
Namzeze I
Site
Brief description of site: A very large (80m2) and prominent rock shelter set into the side ofNarnzeze hill, can be seen from valley below. Ideal habitation site or observation point. Access is remarkably arduous from all directions up a near vertical hillslope, making the site well secluded. Very good views to north.
Brief description of art: Very extensive painted surfaces, all well protected and well preserved. Too numerous to describe, see sketch. Left end has massed red designs many of which overlay one another. Some have delicate white dot decoration, a few have white fill. Central section
and right end also has a few red designs. These are the areas with smooth flat surfaces and this would seem to explain the positioning. On many other rougher sections and over the red designs are numerous schematised zoomorphs, anthropomorphs and a car (mostly nyau characters including - kasiyamaliro, ng'ombe, galimoto, kapoli and other bird and facemask characters). All applied in white, some daubed, some finger applied. Also 3 unique, finely applied, complex geometric designs in red and white. Applied by brush, I suspect, by one artist.
Nkuntha II
Site
Brief description of site: A slight recess at the base of a large rock-face. Provides limited shade and no shelter. Good view to the north. Fairly easily accessible up a short steep slope, quite well hidden.
Brief description of art: 2 zoomorphic figures applied crudely by finger in white (possibly nyau).