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Site and People records
Vandenheever I 354
Site

Brief description of site: The RSA VHD1 rock shelter is bilobial and measures 19 m x 2.5 m and is between 1.2 m - 2.5 m high. T he site has a natural spring in its centre. A substantial stone wall that may date from the Boer-Basotho Wars or from early white settlers (c. 1840-1860) encloses the slopes below the site. The site faces south-west and may be described as relatively hidden, even though it is within a kilometre of the tar road.

The site has a surprising depth of archaeological deposit; up to 1 m thick in places (tested by 5 mm auger). The deposit has a hard capping and only a few crypto-crystalline silicate lithics (stone tools) were observed.The spring area has considerable ceramic, glass and metal debris from historic times (1820 CE onwards), The site looks to have been visited regularly in the past and there is little surface scatter though there are some hornfels and opaline lithics on the slope in front of the shelter, but few. There are at least 4 grinding patches and one area where metal has been whetted. There is a lot of hydrous ferrous oxide (2Fe2O3 3H2O) trapped in the shelter's rock strata.
Brief description of art: RSA VDH1 has two (Bushman / San and Korana) and possibly three (Sotho) macro rock art traditions represented as well as an exceptional degree of cross-cultural and cross temporal engagement with the art. There are at least 145 - motifs present in the shelter -109 of San authourship and the remaining 36 of Korana and/or Khoe origin. The ceiling 'paintings' could possibly be of Sotho origin, but are more likely Korana/Khoe.

Located in the South East end of the shelter is a striking, well-preserved 600+ year old panel representing a Medicine Dance (also known as a Trance dance). At least 9 human figures depicted in muted red paint derived from exotic ferric oxide participate. There are at least 13 flywhisks depicted. The flywhisk is known ethnographically to be associated exclusively with the Medicine Dance. Above this panel are at least 23 white and red eland (Taurotragus oryx). They form a 2.5 m x 1.0. With and on top of of these eland are white Korana finger paintings. There are at least two horses, one with a distinct rider. There are also 2 V-shaped motifs and numerous daubs. A large (San) eland has been outlined in white finger paint and at least two small antelope - probably Mountain Rhebuck (Redunca fulvorufula) - have been effaced with white smears. To the right another eland has had a white finger-painted dewlap added. The paintings on the western end of the shelter, beyond the natural spring, are not well preserved though animated human figures and large antelope are evident as well as some enigmatic lines. There are also streaks of white and light red ochre on the ceiling as well as a few geometric motifs. At the far eastern end of the shelter 2.3 m above present surface level is a panel of ochre finger-painted geometric motifs comprising vertical rows of fingerdots and square geometrics. Pigment removal: In at least seven instances pigment has been removed -quite deeply and in two instances with a metal instrument - from the forequarters and dewlaps of the eland paintings. Such removal of pigment differs from normal graffiti or 'vandalism' in its precision of purpose. Such removals are typically carried out by Bantu-speaking religious practitioners. Pigment is removed to cure illness emanating from malevolent sources and to ward off lighting. Pigment is considered to have potency on account of the San being acknowledged as people with special ritual powers. Significantly, pigment has not been removed indiscriminately - it has been removed only from eland and only from their forequarter/dewlap area.

Suikerboschrand I 424
Site

Brief description of site: The RSA SUI1 rock shelter measures 40 m x 8 m and is up to 4 m high with a secondary ledge above the main shelter. The shelter floor has been levelled. The shelter has formed out of Clarens Formation sandstone. The site was used as a quarry and there are many sandstone blocs and fragments lying in the cave. Extensive fires have caused widespread damage. There is a fair amount of montane vegetation surrounding the site, but not excessive. A tributary of the Grootspruit runs directly below and next to the site.

There was extensive archaeological deposits at the site, though this has now been disturbed and levelled. There are very many opaline/crypt-crystalline silicate stone tools that belong to the Later Stone Age (c. 30 000 years ago until c. 1850 AD). There are also traces of historic occupancy of the shelter. There are two quarried sandstone blocs with paintings on at the West end of the shelter. The shelter is quite damp and bone has not preserved. Just on from the shelter there are finger impressions on a mud panel that relate to Sotho boy's initiation, as well as marks at the East site entrance.
Brief description of art: The RSA SUI1 rock paintings belong to several different periods and cover many centuries. Some of the older paintings executed in the 'Classic' or older manner seem very old. These paintings relate strongly to Bushman religion, which is known as shamanism.

The entrance panel: At the East entrance to the cave there is a panel with at least 20 human figures painted in red and a very faded white. The human figures appear to be in a procession.

The central panel: In the cave's central portion there is a large 30 cm eland in red, white and black; a shaded polychrome eland and 3 red ?hartbeest in a deep red. There are at least 8 human figures, some running in an animated style doing the 'splits'. There are many faded animal torsos.

Other images: Scattered at various parts of the shelter are human and animal figures. Some are covered by soot, some by calcite. The whole cave must have been one huge gallery in its day.