Brief description of art: An exceptionally detailed horse has been engraved in an incised and scraped technique. The horse is clearly a stallion that has been knee-haltered. The mane and tail are clearly depicted - the horse even has a noticeable forelock or 'kuif'. The horse's eye is also depicted. Holding the horse is the second engraving - a human figure with a broad-brimmed hat, broad shoulders and boots. In this figure' right hand is the bridle, bit and halter of the horse; all depicted in fine detail.
Brief description of art: An exceptionally detailed horse has been engraved in an incised and scraped technique. The horse is clearly a stallion that has been knee-haltered. The mane and tail are clearly depicted - the horse even has a noticeable forelock or 'kuif'. The horse's eye is also depicted. Holding the horse is the second engraving - a human figure with a broad-brimmed hat, broad shoulders and boots. In this figure' right hand is the bridle, bit and halter of the horse; all depicted in fine detail.
Brief description of site: This site is located 40 m below the 1445 m summit of the ridge-backed hill immediately to the WNW of RSA HLF1, on the southern and steepest side. The site consists of a small - medium collection of dark black dolerite boulder blocks with an excellent view to the south.
There are no visible associated artefacts. There is a collection of Historic Period rock-engravings in at least two related episodes on flat, horizontal and adjacent boulder.
Brief description of art: Episode 1: This is the more carefully and deeply engraved imagery. There is a horse bridled in the 'swan-necked' manner that was often used by the British. There is a curious human figure with what looks to be an animal head and holding a club-like object. There are also human figures fighting and what may be a dog is also depicted. A deeply engraved arrow is also present. One human figure is depicted firing a rifle.
Episode 2: These images are engraved in a scratched outline technique. This episode relates to Episode 1 as each deeply engraved human figure is apparently fighting against a scratched outline human figure. There are also two bridled horses depicted. 2 scratched outline human figures oppose each other in a fighting posture. A scratched outline animal is engraved near the deeply engraved animal-headed human figure.
Brief description of site: This site is located on the western side of a small poort or pass on a 1 300 m contour. The site consists of a large 2.4 m high pile of rough dolerite rock covering approximately 25 m2. For years the engravings were covered over by bushes.
There are a few lithics (stone tools) located on the surface of the site. These stone tools are mostly made from lydianite of 'hornfels' - also known as indurated shale. Among the stone tools are flakes - which were general purpose tools used to cut, scrape and so forth. There is no bone preserved and no ostrich eggshell was observed.
Brief description of art: There is a 700 mm x 600 mm lightly pecked outline engraving of an antelope. The antelope is somewhat amorphous but may represent a hartbeest or blesbok. The peck marks are not deep and they are still relatively unweathered - suggesting an age of between 150 - 500 years.
Brief description of site: This site takes the form of an extensive (, 3 km2), flat-topped low rise/hill on the 1360 m contour. The area has both sandstone and dolerite geology and is somewhat unusual. The site overlooks the Oorlogspoort River. The site has an excellent view to the north. The site has weathered dolerite and at its southern base there is a fine collection of dark black dolerite boulders that have a smooth sheen caused by generations of megaherbiviores such as elephant, hippo and rhino wallowing in the nearby mud pools and then scratching and rubbing their bodies vigorously against the rock to rid themselves of ecto-paratsites.
The site has many lithics or stone tools - especially near the steeper north-eastern edge and corner. These stone tools are mostly made from lydianite of 'hornfels' - also known as indurated shale. Every stage of stone tool manufacture is present. There are cores - large lumps of rock from which stone tools are made. There are flakes - general-purpose cutting tools. Adzes are present and were used for woodworking in much the same way as a spokeshave. End and side-scrapers, often in the shape of a thumbnail were used to prepare leather. There are also rare burins and awls - used to pierce leather. There is no bone preserved and no ostrich eggshell was observed. There are many grinding patches on the rocks suggesting extensive use of seeds and root foods. Some grinding patches may also have been used to grind ochre. Some of the rocks have evidence for the sharpening of metal tools.
Brief description of art: San or 'Bushman' rock engravings: Most of the rock-engravings were made by San or 'Bushman' hunter-gatherers. These are also the people that made the bulk of the stone tools. The engravings are executed in a variety of techniques - pecked infill, scraped infill, scratched infill and outline and incised. The antelope all seem to be San-authored. Interestingly, the 'scene' comprising ostrich, antelope (probably eland or gemsbok) and feline - shows clear evidence of having been made, in part, by a metal instrument. This would suggest a 'contact' date for this 'scene' of within the last 1 000 years or so. The relatively unpatinated appearance of this 'scene' would suggest an age within the last 500 years or so. In contrast, the antelope engraved nearby and upslope is deeply patinated and thus older. There are more San engravings on the steep north-eastern slope.
Herder & farmer rock-engravings: Several of RSA HNG1's rock-engravings are in the incised technique and show historical subject matter such as an ox-waggon. There are also several people's names engraved with dates. A snake is somewhat intriguing as it is not common in the San tradition yet has a deep patina.
Gong rocks: There is one possible and one definite gong rock on site. The possible gong rock is located in the centre and northern end of the site and consists of a medium-sized boulder that someone has lifted and wedged up from an underlying rock with some small pebbles. At least three smaller rocks immediately adjacent to this rock bear are unmodified but bear signs of having been struck with other rocks. These four rocks do emit something of a metallic 'gong', but are quite dull; much more so than known gong rocks associated with rock-engraving sites. A more convincing gong rock is encountered on the summit of the site's north-eastern side where a natural dolerite rock pile or 'stapelklip' has one rock that has been hit intensively and which emits a good, penetrating metallic tone.