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Site and People records
Piet Albert Koppies I
Site

Brief description of site: The main Site is located on and around the 1281 m, The koppies are remarkable granite formations composed of slab-like and often sharp protuberances that look like huge teeth, and which is located within a varied Bushveld biome. Lesser and larger natural sumps contain water for varying periods. The view from the main site is all-encompassing and other small and large hills appear to rise out of a sea of trees in the wet seasons. The localised landscape is intricate with gullies and alleys.

On the flatter sections and also at the hill's margins there are numerous 'lithics' or stone tools of every description on the surface of the site. These lithics all belong to the Later Stone Age, which covers the period from about 25 000 years ago until historic times. The raw materials used for these lithics are varied. Most are hornfels (also known as lydianite or indurated shale). This raw material is everywhere available in the form of river cobbles. There are also opalines - a crypto-crystalline silicate rock that forms in volcanic pipes and which then occurs either as nodules in rock strata or get washed down streams. Granite fragments appear as if they were tested for stone tools but seem to have been discarded as granite is too coarse-grained and has bad flaking properties. Every stage of stone tool manufacture is present at NAM PTO1. 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. In addition to the stone tools, there are small pieces of grit-tempered, undecorated pottery fragments. There is also some bone and charcoal and a few metal items of recent vintage. The pottery may belong to herders or early farmers who used the site. The depth of deposit in the shelter is hard to determine because of its size and because of the hard, consolidated earth, but it does exceed 50 cm in places. There are also low stone walls on-site. On the southern side of the site below a panel of engraved ostriches there is a quite substantial set of low (less than 1 m) stone walls. There are numerous flat abraded patches that represent rock on which material such as plant food and possibly ochre was ground fine.
Brief description of art: NAM PTO1's 1 500-plus rock engravings were made by two distinct groups of people. First, there are 'Bushman (also known as 'San') rock engravings that are, broadly speaking, representational within a religious and symbolic framework. Secondly, there are the geometric engravings of Khoekhoen (formerly 'Khoi' or 'Hottentot') herder peoples. Finally, there is a very good example of a 'gong rock' - a naturally occurring granite boulder that has resonant qualities when struck.

Bushman rock engravings: There are many hundreds of pecked outline and pecked infill animals, human figures and others. These engravings are concentrated on the NW and SW of the highest point. The site is dominated by depictions of giraffe, though there are also engraved: a possible antbear; antelope, eland, elephant, felines (leopard?); gemsbok (oryx), a few rare human figures, kudu, ostrich, rhino, zebra. The site has a remarkable western outlier of a huge giraffe engraving that measures 330 cm long - similar to the engraved giraffe of similar size at Beit Bridge, Zimbabwe. There are also engravings of human footprints and animal spoor such as those of giraffe, antelope, rhino and so forth. Most of the engravings have a medium degree of 'patination'. 'Patination' is the degree of weathering the engraved rock has been exposed to. As a general rule, the darker the engraved rock, the older it is; though it must be stressed that local weather conditions and the placement of the engraving on an exposed or sheltered rock can influence matters considerably.

Gong rock: At NAM PTO1 to the east and slightly south of the Trig Beacon, there is what is known as a 'gong rock'. Gong rocks are naturally occurring boulders, usually of dolerite but in this case granite, that are naturally resonant. In other words, these rocks emit a sound like a hammer striking a blacksmith's anvil or tapping a galls of water, when struck with ones hand. These gong rock's resonance is thanks to their being balanced on top of other rocks or having natural cracks through them that act as resonators. The NAM PTO1 gong rock takes the form of a long, lenticular granite slab that rests on other granite. This slab has broken into two parts that measure 204 cm long x 88 cm broad x 27-41 cm thick and 187 cm long x 69 cm broad x 49-70 cm thick. This gong rock has a good tonal range when struck. Please do not strike it with another rock as this causes damage and removes potentially datable patination layers! Rather use a cloth-covered rock or your hand. The places where this gong rock has been struck is shown by 7 small semi-hemisperical hollows known as 'cupules' measuring between 29 mm - 60.5 mm in diameter and 2.5 mm - 9 mm in depth.

Cupules: On a large flat rock to the west are a number of cupules that are not the result of percussive hammering to produce sound like on a gong rock. Measuring between 32.5 mm - 88 mm and 10 mm - 24 mm depth, these 7 cupules are too small and on too sloping a surface to have been used as grinding hollows such as occur elsewhere nearby. Also, these cupules occur as the centre point of an engraved encircling line. This 'motif' is often referred to as a 'cup-and-ring' mark and occurs in many parts of the world.

Khoekhoen rock engravings: NAM PTO1 has a great many non-representational geometric engravings that consist of circles, wavy lines, grid and star-like forms. At times, these geometric motifs bear a striking resemblance to the grid-like patterns found in the bodies of the giraffe engravings. Previously thought to represent the 'entoptic phenomena' or visual hallucinations experienced by trancing Bushman shamans, these geometric are better understood as being the product of Khoekhoen herder peoples that moved into Namibia between 2 000 - 2 500 years ago.

Tsumis 147 I
Site

Brief description of site: NAM TIM1 takes the form of an extensive 60 m x 30 m long glaciated knobbly doleritic rock pavement. A fence runs over the western part of the site. Located on a low rise on the 1320 m contour between somewhat higher such other rises, there is still a good view to the north and west.

There is a lot of hard white quartzite material available although it is difficult to tell if many were used as tools or not. There are, however, clear stone tools of the Later Stone Age period dating back from Historic Times until about 25 000 years ago. There are patches on the rock pavement where people have ground presumably plant foods and perhaps ochre. There are also possible stone alignments.
Brief description of art: The site is dominated by pecked infill and pecked outline engravings of animal spoor - perhaps 55-60. Antelope, baboon, eland, giraffe and zebra spoor are depicted. Some of the zebra spoors have a clear 'frog' engraved in the hind-hoof. There are also half-a-dozen human footprints - some quite large (40 cm +) while others are tiny (10 cm and less) - and two bird tracks. There is a 7-toed feline spoor located 45 cm from a 7-toed human footprint, which is 58 cm from a cupule 38 mm in diameter and 6 mm in depth. Representational imagery includes some rudimentary animals, probably antelope and a recent peck-incised human figure. There are also enigmatic axe-head-like motif and 'half-dumbbell' images that are pecked infill, quite large circular motifs atop a thick stem.

Twyfelfontein 534 I
Site

Brief description of site: NAM TWT1 consists of a huge stand-alone block-like outlier of Etjo sandstone. This vast block of rock has several components with a spire-like element in the centre and rock jumble to the west, and large rock shelters to the east and south. The site has good views to the north and east and a seasonal river flows after rains 30 m north of the site. The site is located on the flat section 80 m away from the slope of the upland on the 550 m contour. There is a noticeable echo in the south-west of the site.

All around this site and especially in the eastern and southern rock shelters, there are numerous 'lithics' or stone tools of every description on the surface of the site. These lithics all belong to the Later Stone Age, which covers the period from about 25 000 years ago until historic times. The raw materials used for these lithics are varied. Most of these are made from white quartzite. There are also opalines - a crypto-crystalline silicate rock that forms in volcanic pipes and which then occurs either as nodules in rock strata or get washed down streams. There is also hornfels (also known as lydianite or indurated shale). This raw material is everywhere available in the form of river cobbles. Every stage of stone tool manufacture is present at this site. 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. In addition to the stone tools, there are small pieces of grit-tempered, undecorated pottery fragments. There is also some bone and charcoal and a few metal items of recent vintage. The pottery may belong to herders or early farmers who used the site. The depth of deposit in the site is hard to determine because of its size and because of the hard, consolidated earth, but it does exceed 400 mm in places, especially in the eastern shelter. There are some flat abraded patches that represent rock on which material such as plant food and possibly ochre was ground fine. Worryingly, the southern shelter's surface scatter has been severely displaced by an attempt to clear this site's floor and the surface artefacts occur like tide marks on the margins of the shelter. The site is home to Bushman and Khoekhoen rock engravings, Bushman rock paintings and cupules.
Brief description of art: There are approximately 65 images at this site.

Northern side: This side is notable for the two giraffe engraved there in a fine pecked-infill, each with a strange proboscis continuing from its snout (not a nasal or oral emission- animal 660 mm long). There is one large giraffe 560 mm x 400 mm long in a deep pecked outline and a partial pecked infill. The big head is emphasised as are the chest, head and rump in a manner that may be termed the 'Twyfelfontein manner' or style. There are also two pulses of geometric engravings here - probably made by Khoekhoen herders - which consist of joined and multiple circles as well as a 'half-dumbbell' motif.

Eastern side: There are two deep pecked outline and one fine-pecked infill zebra engraved with a 340 mm long wildebeest of buffalo image. There is a 510 mm tall pecked outline giraffe that looks to have been renewed by re-pecking and has algae or lichen growing on it. There is a thick curved pecked area below an area of natural grooves. A small 320 mm x 400 mm remnant of case-hardened Etjo sandstone bears the remains of red rock paintings in the form of two human torsos and a black quadruped body. In the northern and deeper part of the shelter is a 1.2 m x 0.4 m cluster of rock paintings: a 530 mm tall finely painted white giraffe with intricate patterning and red dorsal stripe. Nest to it is a 310 mm tall human figure with arms raised and painted all in red. There are also two white gnu-like animals. There are a further three red blobs, a black anima, remains of a red animal and two black human figures. Above and to the right of this image cluster there are 6 incised equids, of which is definitely a representation of a zebra (210 mm long) as well as a possible foal. Interestingly, these incised equids have been engraved on a piece of rock that has zebra-like patterning. Below these images is a rough pecked infill zebra with snout, a smaller pecked infill animal and a 3-toed engraved footprint.

Southern side: This is a large shelter, very high and voluminous. This shelter connect to the northern side via long natural passage between the split rock. On the western wall of this passage are several engravings. First, just above eye level there is a double row of at least 12 opposed depressions that are probably cupules, measuring between 18.2 mm - 25.2 mm diameter and 3 mm - 4 mm depth. 'Cupules' are small, semi-hemispherical hollows that humans have ground into or pecked out of the rock - - similar shape and size to half a ping pong ball. Cupules are not grinding hollows as they are either usually too small or they occur on very steeply sloping surfaces. The meaning of cupules is, as yet, unclear, but they seem to represent a way to mark certain categories of space and place. 2 m deeper into the passage there are three large pecked outline engravings - a 940 mm x 620 mm black rhino, a 310 mm x 280 mm antelope (?springbok) and a 200 mm x 110 mm ostrich that has been re-scratched.

Western side: In this rock jumble there is a large rock that has slipped and fallen onto another rock, leaving a narrow triangular gap between the two. On the uppermost surface of the lower rock is an interesting 1.9 m x 0.9 m (the rest of the case hardened upper rock surface is missing) cluster of geometric imagery that was probably made by the Khoekhoen. This collection of circles within circles and clusters of cupules within circles is very particular and reminiscent of the geometric imagery on the 'Dancing Kudu' engraved and abraded at the main site complex. These cupules are between 16 mm - 42.7 mm diameter and 2.7 mm - 8 mm deep. Two of the circular motifs - in rough pecked infill & outline have short 'tails' coming off them. There is a crescentic arc of 6 dot-cupules. There are episodic engravings on the loose rocks. High on the southern end of the big central rock bloc there are three engraved zebra - one of which has no head and a scratched-in body. These zebra 430 mm and 370 mm long, have a deep pecked outline and lighter infill pecked interior.

Twyfelfontein 534 III
Site

Brief description of site: This site consists of a noticeable cluster of sandstone blocs between the large dry riverbed and the lower slopes of the valley sides on the 600 m contour. There is a dirt track, quite well-used, leading almost directly to the site. The hiking trail also passes directly past the site. The cluster of sandstone blocs offers a number of passageways and cave-like spaces. No sight line to the main site but good views to the north and east.

There is a very extensive surface scatter of quartzite and hornfels stone tools, concentrating at several of the cave-like spaces. There is also a noticeable presence of ostrich eggshell fragments and a few partly-worked such beads. Over the river on the valley floodplain/floor, there are numerous circular depressions, though it is not known whether these are cause by a natural or a human agency.
Brief description of art: Bushman rock engravings occur at at least 9 localities at this site complex and number perhaps 150-175 individual images. The central twice-split rock stack and the large angled rock table to its south-west have the densest concentration of imagery.

Central twice-split rock bloc: The dominant image cluster has dimensions of 2.5 m x 2.2 m cluster. The engravings are all pecked with combination of outline, infill and deeper outline with lighter infill. 6 giraffe (up to 880 mm tall), 4 rhino - one of which is white - 2 oryx, 16 other animals - probably zebra. More than 15 antelope spoor (aligned 'right way up' unlike Zeremonienplatz), 7 of which are very deeply engraved and the largest has dimensions of 110 mm x 105 mm. There is one zebra spoor. There are two cases of superimpositioning - in both cases zebra have been engraved on top of a rhino and a zebra respectively. There is one 4-toed human footprint.

Main cluster annexe: Here we encounter 11 animals - 2 giraffe (770 mm tall), 2 zebra, 1 ostrich, 7 spoor (one of which is zebra and the rest antelope), 4 cupules. On lower, 60° sloping rock in the tight squeeze section that has 4 other animals engraved and at least 40 cupules that are between 25.5 mm - 45.5 mm in diameter and between 3 mm - 8 mm deep. These latter images are in a very awkward position and would have been so also for the engraver.
Passageway behind main image cluster: On the eastern side of the largest passage through twice-split rock are 12 animals engraved with a deep pecked outline and lighter pecked infill. There is an equid with partial pecked infill. 9 equids, 6 of which have the 'three-pronged' head. 1 very good kudu bull with characteristic curly horns and 1 giraffe with fat belly and rudimentary legs. There is one possible bird engravings and a square motif. On the facing, western part of the passageway at the southern end there are 2 rough-pecked giraffe and 3 rough-pecked partial-infill equids, an antelope and an antelope spoor.

Rear vertical cluster: The back or western side of twice-split rock has two components - a vertical wall and a collapsed horizontal slab. The vertical wall has nearly two dozen pecked outline and pecked infill animals, mostly in deep pecked outline and rough pecked infill. There are 10 giraffe, 1 ostrich and 12 other animals - all equids. This imagery covers 4.7 m x 1.9 m of vertical wall.

Rear horizontal cluster: On a 20° sloping surface is an engraved cluster covering 2.9 m x 5.4 m and bears over 40 engraved animals- 18 giraffe, 3 black rhino, 21 equids, 3 of which are horned, 2 white rhino, 1 giraffe with good patterning on the neck, 19 buck, 2 elephant, 4 ostrich, and 22 large cupules, some of which are superimpose don top of the engravings. The cupules have diameters of between 23 mm - 64 mm and depths of between 8 mm - 18.5 mm with flat bottoms where the engraved has gone through the thin outer layer of Etjo sandstone into the layer beneath. 1 rhino has 160 mm long horn. There is a cluster of spoor - rhino, giraffe, antelope, equid and 1 human footprint. 1 giraffe has outstretched front legs. On the side of this collapsed rock are two antelope engraved.

Cave behind central twice-split rock bloc: Immediately behind and steeply upslope of the main site pulse is a cave-like space. Engraved into/out of the vertical cave walls is an antelope and an ostrich in a deep pecked-infill technique, a more lightly engraved equid and 3 unidentifiable quadruped animals. On the smoother northern cave wall ceiling is a carefully engraved antelope spoor and two pecked infill animal engravings. Opposite is a pecked-infill giraffe engraving whose feet end in spoor, which are shown in twisted perspective.

SW large sloping surface: Immediately SW of the central twice-split rock bloc is a huge angled slope of rock slab abutting another more squat rock bloc. Over two dozen engravings including: a fat 680 mm x 540 mm ostrich, a giraffe, 17 equids in pecked-infill, pecked-outline and partial pecked-infill. There is one equid 'mother/parent -and-child' grouping. 1 partial pecked-infill oryx. 1 very large spoor. These engravings all made with a large, punctate peck, somewhat less fine than at the main site complex. 7 further animals beyond and a 175 mm x 140 mm spoor. On opposite and vertical slope there are 2 giraffe, 2 equids, 1 very fat animal and an excellent twirly-horned kudu bull with an oryx and another animal.

Other: here and there on outlying rock blocs there are isolated engravings, some only partially completed.

Twyfelfontein 534 IV
Site

Brief description of site: On the same contour and approximately 150 m south-west of the NAM TWT3, also sandwiched between the riverbed and valley sides is a large, dark upright boulder against which another leans on it lower part. The upright boulder faces onto the valley.

There are sparsely scattered hornfels and quartzite flakes on the surface but seems not to have been a living site and perhaps more of a 'marker' site, highlighting or nuancing a route.
Brief description of art: There is a 1.9 m x 2.53 m image cluster that consists of 2 giraffe in a fine and partial pecked infill with little weathering and relatively fresh-looking. Is a possible third and less fine giraffe. 2 other giraffe and 3 very rudimentary animals. 1 partial pecked infill rhino engraving. There appear to be two episodes of engraving - one older and finer and another more recent and less fine attempt for the small, jackal-like animals.

Twyfelfontein 534 IX
Site

Brief description of site: There is another, smaller flat living area immediately south of NAM TWT8. Though less expansive, this area is a very localised landscape with many rock blocs, passage-like spaces and an amazing echo. On the western edge, this area is defined by the most huge upstanding rock blocs at NAM TWT.

The painted Affenblock, which has the single rock painting, was excavated by dr. Eric Wendt, who found sparse cultural remains to a depth of about 300 mm. There are stone tools and ostrich eggshell fragments visible in most places as well as stone alignments that may represent Khoekhoen hut circles.
Brief description of art: This area has a single Bushman rock paintings, over 250 Bushman rock engravings and perhaps 40 Khoekhoen rock engravings. There are numerous findspots, 8 of which are mentioned here.

Upslope giraffe site: High up on the western slope of the valley side is an upright sandstone slab on which there is a very clear giraffe pecked in deep outline and partial infill. Two other partial pecked-infill giraffe are placed to the right of this giraffe as well as a fourth, smaller animal. The visible giraffe may have been re-pecked.

Affenblock: In the centre of the living area is a small rock shelter with an ocular passageway connecting the two lobes of the larger site's living area. In this rock shelter there is a single 400 mm human figure in a standing/walking posture painted in red. 2 m opposite this Bushman rock painting on a vertical shelter wall is a collection of engraved imagery comprising fine pecked-infill broad-horned antelope, 11 ostrich, a feline spoor with claws extended, a human figure, giraffe and 22 cupules arranged in two parallel rows. These cupules are between 26 mm - 35 mm in diameter and between 3.5 mm - 8 mm deep.

East & north of Affenblock: All around the Affenblock, especially to the east, are many engravings that are dominated by ostrich, at least 3 of which have feet shown in a twisted perspective as though they were spoor. There is a lot of spoor imagery; especially antelope and giraffe. Most of the engravings have been depicted in fine pecked-infill, sometimes with a deeper outline. Giraffe also feature prominently, with a particularly good example being found on the back, eastern side of the large rock bloc. On top of this rock bloc there are also giraffe engravings, spoor and zebra. To the north and west of the Affenblock on a 65° sloping sandstone block are some very good giraffe engravings; one of which as a triple wavy line associated with its head. To the left is a very fine engraved and abraded and polished giraffe spoor 115 mm x 70 mm. More spoor, equids, antelope, and wavy lines fill up this rock slab. Closer to the overhang are some zebras in pecked-infill with clear mane hairs.

South of (behind) Affenblock: Beyond the small ocular passageway in the painted rock shelter the imagery is dominated by spoor. Behind the shelter there is a series of over a dozen antelope spoor very careful engraved in fine pecked-infill, about 1.6 m - 2 m above the present surface level. There are three antelope, 1 human and 1 equid spoor here. Turning to the west and south, high up on the back (eastern) side of one of the huge Reisenblock upstanding slabs at least 3 m off the present surface level there 7 pecked-infill human footprints with 5 toes each. These footprint engravings are very big - over 400 mm. There are also 6 antelope spoor, 2 equid spoor and 3 feline pug marks.

Khoekhoen shelter: North and slightly east of the Affenblock is a high and open rock shelter. Facing this shelter is a sloping slab on which antelope, ostrich, giraffe and rhino have been engraved, somewhat roughly. Within the shelter on a lower frieze there are 4 rough pecked-infill rhino and 2 rough pecked-infill equids. Above this frieze on a more-than-vertical ceiling area is a series of joined rough pecked-outline circles, identical to joined finger-painted such 'honeycomb' motifs found in the Khoekhoen finger- painted tradition elsewhere in southern Africa.

Oryx-spoor panels: Both behind the Affenblock between it and the Reisenblock as well as on a large 35° sloping slab downslope and to the north and west of the Reisenblock two almost identical motifs are engraved. In each case, in a light pecked-infill there is engraved an oryx with prominent horns. In both instances, the oryx's feet end in twisted perspective spoor, with the downslope oryx having two cupules on either side of each leg. It seems as if the other oryx also has these cupules, perhaps representing hock marks.

Reisenblock: On the western side of the huge upstanding rock blocs (the largest at Twyfelfontein) with passageways known as the 'Reisenblock' there is a large vertical engraved panel in two parts separated by a large, probably collapsed, rock slab. The smaller, left hand side panel is 'protected' by a small engraved panel on the ground on which are engraved in fairly coarse pecked-infill 4 ostrich, one of which has feet that end in twisted perspective spoor, some disembodied pecked-infill animal heads, a circular motif and lines. The left hand panel has engraved on in a very fine pecked-outline, pecked-infill and partial pecked-infill the so-called 'sitting giraffe', a bird-like image and a detailed zebra with mane hairs. There is a 5-toed feline pug mark with extended claws and also an equid spoor. Other, less finely engraved animals on this panel include an ostrich, 3 antelope, a circular outline. The right hand side panel has many engravings such as the odd rhino-antelope animal in punctate pecked-infill. There is also an elephant in a similar punctate pecked-infill. There is a row of giraffe with deeply engraved pecked-infill crescent bodies. Two lean felines, perhaps cheetah or leopard are engraved in addition to 2 other felines. There is a small pecked-infill rhino with a very long wiggly horn. There is also oryx, a second row of giraffe and lots of spoor - dominated by a large punctate-infill giraffe spoor as well as equid, feline and antelope. Two oryx have twisted perspective spoor-feet.

Below Reisenblock: Immediately below the vertical engraved panel are two huge collapsed rock slabs at steep 40° to 50° angles there are engraved antelope, many giraffe - including a very large one -, equids a large punctate-infill elephant, ostrich and spoor.

Twyfelfontein 534 VI
Site

Brief description of site: This site complex comprises at least 4 locales and is the northernmost part of the NAM TWT1. NAM TWT6 is a large, very noticeable rock bloc with several small overhangs located on flat ground 50 m from the eastern valley wall and has mostly Khoekhoen and some Bushman rock engravings. The first is only 35 m to the north with a very marked and deep overhang as part of a large rock bloc, which has mostly Khoekhoen rock engravings. 50 m north of this site is a small overhang and Bushman rock paintings. 10 m north of this on a localised high point are Bushman engravings. The sites are all located on the 600 m contour and are less than 100 m from the seasonal river in the valley.

All the sites show evidence of habitation with surfaces scatter of stone tools. There is also abundant ostrich eggshell, both as fragments and as rare worked beads. Charcoal is very abundant because modern campers used this area in the past, as it is an excellent campsite, giving shelter from the wind.
Brief description of art: NAM TWT6 is dominated by geometric imagery that is thought to have been made by Khoekhoen herder peoples. There are also some Bushman rock engravings as well as rock paintings.

NAM TWT6 Main site:

Southern side: is a huge but thin rock bloc abutting main site bloc with a passageway-like space between the two. On northern and southern faces of this bloc there are concentrations of geometric imagery. N face has 4 cup-and-ring marks, 2 pecked-outline circles, and rows of cupules with dimensions of between 12 mm 24 mm 6 mm. There are various straight and meandering engraved lines and one circles has two lines coming off it. There is also engraved buck spoor, which are engraved in much finer pecking than the geometric imagery. 1 crucifix-like design. Inside the passage-like space on the ceiling is a pecked-outline circle and two pecked lines. The southern face of the bloc has a very large 240 mm diameter bisected pecked-outline circle. There are also 4 cup-and-ring marks and 1 pecked outline circle with 6 cupules within it. 6 other pecked-outline circles. There are three vertical parallel rows and one another such alignment, this time consisting of 5 rows of cupules. There are another more isolated 2 vertical rows of cupules. There are over 70 cupules overall, ranging between 1 mm - 23.5 mm in diameter and between 3 mm - 7.5 mm deep. A very large, cup-like engraved depression is 49 mm diameter.

Horizontal rock bloc: immediately to the south of the leaning bloc there are two very weathered cup-and-ring marks and a third pecked-outline circle near the tip. 2 m to the east is a 270 mm diameter cup-and-ring mark and two vertical, parallel rows of 13 cupules with 20 mm - 42 mm diameter and 3 mm - 5.5 mm depth.

Western side of main bloc: there is a sloping rock with 2 rough-pecked and partial animals and a 6-toed human footprint pecked in outline. There is also a 4-toed feline pug mark with nails extended. These are typical Bushman rock engravings. Ostrich and equids are engraved on the more vertical side of this rock.

High southern side: Over 3 m above the present surface level, on the southern side of the main bloc there are more geometrics - pecked-outline circle, cupules and lines.

Northern cave-like site: 50 m north of the main bloc site at a slightly higher elevation is a rock block with a very deep (up to 4 m) overhang that is 3.5 m long and up to 2 m high. On the southern side of the overhang is a large 45° sloping rock bloc within the shelter is a 1.8 m x 0.33 m image cluster dominated by geometric Khoekhoen imagery. There are at least 9 cup-and-ring motifs with a rough-pecked circular outline and a cupule as the central point. The cupules are between 42 mm - 53 mm in diameter and 7 mm - 14 mm deep. Within the overhang is a large 3.1 m x 2.3 m slightly tilted table-like rock slab that bears at least 5 cup-and-ring engravings and at least 67 cupules in addition to over a dozen natural cupule-like marks. The cupules range between 22.5 mm and 64 mm in diameter and 4 mm - 24.5 mm depth while the cupules in the cup-and-ring marks are between 27 mm - 70.5 mm diameter and 3.5 - 20.5 mm deep. There is one rough-pecked circular line within an oval. There is also an 'exclamation mark' like pecked design in pecked-infill technique. There is a rough-pecked outline dumbbell-like motif. Some of the imagery appears to have been re-pecked or 'renewed' by persons unknown. The inner part of one of the dumbbell circles has been removed and partially polished - a rare technique that is most evident on the famous 'Dancing Kudu/Fabeltier' and large elephant engravings at the main site. Some of the circular lines also appear to have been smoothed. On vertical sides of rock table there are at least 8 further cupules (34.5 mm - 73 mm diameter and 10. 5 mm - 16 mm deep) and 7 pecked infill lines that come off the horizontal surface onto the vertical. 1 cup-and-ring mark. Nearby there is a partial pecked-infill kudu, a double row of cupules and 2 cup-and-ring marks.

Painting and engravings sites. These two sites are located 50 north of the Northern cave-like site on a ridge. The Bushman rock painting site is a very low and small overhang on the back wall and side of which are painted 3 human figures and 2 groups of 3 and 4 human figures; all in red pigment. 10 m north of this site on a localised high point is an engraved slab on which 5 giraffe have been done in a roughly pecked-infill technique.

Bloc spoor site: Immediately 30 m south-east of NAM TWT6 site is a large squat rock bloc that bears four and maybe 5 pecked-infill engraved spoor, possibly of rhino.

Twyfelfontein 534 VII
Site

Brief description of site: There is an extensive boulder field between NAM TWT6 and to within 40 m of the farmhouse ruin. Also north of the farmhouse ruins on the low slopes there are isolated engravings. The boulder field is dominated by Bushman rock engravings - up to 120 - and by cupules - over 200. The ground is undulating and most of the engravings are located above the tier on which the farmhouse ruins are situated. Very rocky walking with a good view to the west and also a bit south, up the valley.

There is a reasonably even and sparse scatter of stone tools throughout the boulder field. This area has been quite disturbed by farming activity and the making of paths.
Brief description of art: Main cupule rock: One of 3 rocks on which there are many cupules. This large rock is situated on the southern side of the boulder field facing the visitor's centre. On a near-vertical face (70°) are engraved in fine pecked-infill 4 giraffe and 13 other animals and over 160 cupules. These cupules are between 20 mm - 63.5 mm in diameter and between 5 mm - 17.5 mm deep. On the side of this rock are an ostrich and rare human figure. Another such human figure is on the other side of the rock.

Second cupule rock: Located 10 m immediately east and adjacent to the main cupule rock. Also on a 70° slope there are 20 cupules (27.5 mm - 39 mm diameter and 5 mm - 6.5 mm deep) and 8 fine pecked-infill equids, probably zebra. On the rock's second facet is an ostrich and six zebra-like animals and a possible human footprint engraved. Bulk of cupules on the lower surface.

Dark rock: Immediately south-east of the second cupule rock is a long, low rock slab on which pecked-infill giraffe, hyena, ostrich, rhinoceros - possibly with a calf, associated with 2 cupules - are engraved. The ostrich is joined to an equid engraving by a pecked-infill line. There are at least two dozen animals engraved on this rock, most of them very weathered and patinated.

Third cupule rock: About 25 m north of second cupule rock. Takes the form of a thin and weathered slab of Etjo sandstone on top of a medium-sized rock bloc. There are engraved in rough pecked-infill giraffe. Ostrich and ?rhino, a 6-toed human footprint and 24 cupules that are between 26 mm - 42.5 mm in diameter and 8 mm - 14 mm deep. There are some pecked-infill wiggly lines engraved and also a 'cloud' of punctate marks. On the vertical side of the rock are engraved oryx, ostrich and equid and two very long-snouted animals in a very rough pecked technique. Perhaps 9 more cupules and could have been more but weathering has been severe. On a very large adjacent rock there are a further 7 cupules.

Ostrich rock: To the north is an impressive frieze of over 12 ostrich, a giraffe, rhino, 3 equids and a rare human figure engraved in the 'arms up' posture. Technically proficient engravings.

Hump sites: On the hillock above the boulder field are a number of smaller engraved rocks. Subjects include, ostrich, giraffe, equid, at least 6 cupules. The imagery is widely dispersed and weathered.

Polished elephant and recent rhino sites: Higher up the slope above the farmhouse ruin en route to Site 8, there is a large, sloping rock bloc off on its own and to the east. On this there is a 1150 mm long abraded giraffe. This is a very unusual technique of representation, but has found expression at NAM TWT1 at the NAM TWT6. There are also two ostrich and two concentric circle motifs, as well as various other rough pecked geometric imagery, such as a dumbbell and other pecked-outline circles that have been damaged by exfoliating rock surface. To the north of this site is another, just off the path where it begins to get steep near the spring. Here a rhino, ostrich, small animal and quadruped are engrave din pecked-infill and partial pecked-infill. The more recent initials of a person have also been engraved into the rock with a metal instrument.

Twyfelfontein 534 VIII
Site

Brief description of site: Immediately above the spring on the 660 m contour there is a large, flat, sand-covered mini-plateau that makes for an excellent living area. This flat area is fringed by large rock blocs, two of which occur on the plain area as rock shelters, one of which is a large mushroom-shaped outcrop and the other a squatter but deeper shelter with Bushman rock paintings. Upslope to the south-east there is an arched cave-like space with Bushman rock engravings and a rock painting. There is also a shelter upslope and on the north-eastern edge of the flat area. The rest of the area has Bushman and Khoekhoen rock engravings. The view is very localised unless one goes to the edges of the flat are and gazes west over the valley.

Though disturbed by the construction of the visitor's path and illegal sampling by visitors, there remains a great deal of surface archaeology in the form of hornfels and quartzite stone tools of every description; especially in the less-visited off-path areas; ostrich eggshell fragments and so forth. There are also a number of surviving semi-circular, circular and oval small (diameter of 1 m - 1.5 m) stone circles that have been made by placing thin pavement-like stone slabs on their edges. These stone circles may represent Khoekhoen Architecture. The painted rock shelter was excavated by Dr. Eric Wendt and was filled with cultural material to a depth of about 400 mm.
Brief description of art: Geometrics.

This area has both Bushman rock engravings (,50) & rock paintings (,43) as well as Khoekhoen rock engravings (,70) located in five main locations.

North-eastern rock shelter: At the north-eastern edge of the flat living area there is a high but small rock shelter. At the back and to the side of this shelter on a sloping rock bloc there is a collection of geometric Khoekhoen imagery - primarily 9 rough pecked-outline circles, a cup-and-ring motif, some wavy lines and half a pecked-outline dumbbell motif

On the eastern edge of the flat area there is a jumble of large rock blocs and slabs. On one such large slab, sloping at a 40° angle, there is one of NAM TWT's best-known images. This takes the form of a 860 mm x 680 mm kudu ewe in what has become known as a 'dancing' posture. The kudu has been engraved and then abraded to a smooth polish - a most unusual technique for Bushman rock engravings. A cup-and-ring motif in front of the kudu has been similarly abraded and polished. A lighter abraded and polished line runs down from the kudu's snout. The kudu's tail has been re-engraved and there are at least three geometric motifs placed partially on top of the kudu. The rest of this large image cluster is dominated by geometric imagery - probably Khoekhoen in origin. These geometrics are in the form of rough and fine pecked-outline circles, dumbbell motifs, internally divided circles, a spindly star-like motif, meandering lines, a cup-and-ring motifs and 6 very singular crescent-cupule motifs. These motifs consist of a crescent or 'new moon' engraved shape that is surrounded in a circle by 24-27 cupule-like dots, though these are smaller than the typical cupules encountered at Twyfelfontein. The geometric imagery has variable patination, showing that the geometric forms were added to the slab over time. Below this slab there is an arc of 15 pecked-outline circles, other geometrics.

Adjacent rock blocs: Immediately west of the site there is an upright rock jumble on the back, western side of which is engraved a rare human figure, two ostrich in rough pecking as well as further geometrics and a possible human footprint engraving.

Located centrally and further south from the Fabeltier is an obvious squat mushroom rock with quite a large area of overhang with a convex shelter wall. On this wall are about 43 Bushman rock paintings, named after the two cross-legged and seated human figures painted in red. There is a third kneeling red human figure painted with a single bar infibulated penis and busy drawing his bow. Above these there is a row of at least 9 red human figures. 1 standing human figure has also a drawn bow. There is a nice white giraffe with red dorsal stripe and red patterning marks on the body. Its head is white and rather equid-like. There are then 3 small goose-stepping and bow-carrying red human figures. There is a large 370 mm ?zebra near 4 red bags and 4 red human figures with Brandberg-like head-dresses. There are two large human figures painted in red. On the shelter's ceiling there are 7 well-preserved light red antelope torsos and 8 red human figures. On the rock adjacent to the shelter there are some engraved animals.

Archway engraved shelter: Upslope and behind the Zwei Schneider shelter there is a massive leaning rock bloc at an entrance to a large rock shelter that has an arched and large passageway through it. Inside the shelter there is a rock-painted equid and a pecked-infill giraffe engraving. On the massive rock bloc outside are engraved a huge 1130 mm x 930 mm bull giraffe in deep pecked outline and partial pecked infill. There are also 8 other engraved animals - another giraffe, 4 antelope with twirly horns and thus probably representing kudu, a possible juvenile antelope, and equid and a ?kudu with a rhinoceros-like snout and tail up.

Twyfelfontein 534 XIV
Site

Brief description of site: This site comprises a large overhang making for a cave-like space up to 2 m deep and up to 3 m high (but typically 1.5 m) on a large rock bloc with a sloping and reasonably extensive floor area. This cave-like overhang is sited next to large upstanding rock bloc complex. The overhand has Bushman rock paintings and Bushman rock engravings, while the upstanding rock bloc has Bushman rock engravings. This site and its Outlier - NAM TWT15 - marks the southernmost extent of the main NAM TWT Site Complex. The site is south of the small tributary that separates NAM TWT10 from Sites NAM TWT11-13. There is a good view down the valley and towards the main site complex. This site is on the 640 m contour and just outside of the main declared monument area. There is a noticeable echo and wind roar at this site.

The overhang part of the site has a very hard, gritty floor that slopes. Rain and tourists have picked the surface of this site clean of artefacts. There are stone tools further down the slope and also bone and ostrich eggshell, fragments.
Brief description of art: There are about 20 Bushman rock engravings and 25 Bushman rock paintings here (with perhaps some Khoekhoen art also present), probably the best-preserved paintings in the valley.

Overhang site: The overhang interior wall has two facets, both of which are painted.

Facet 1: On the one facet are the well-preserved torsos of 7 buck painted in red paint with an average dimension of 150 mm x 90 mm. One of these buck is gracile and may represent a springbok, while the other six are sturdier and may represent oryx, though one sturdy buck has very kudu-like legs. There is a large 400 mm x 290 mm white buck painted on top of the red buck torsos. There is also a white belly of an oryx surviving as a remnant of a once-whole animal painting. There are at least 4 ostrich heads in white paint and two very enigmatic motifs. The enigmatic motifs consist of alternating thin red and while parallel lines arranged in an open triangle or roughly arrow shape. There does not seem to be any paint nearby and it is not yet possible to say what these enigmatic motifs may signify. There is also a partial red outline buck.

Facet 2: On the overhang's other fact there are four red buck painted, one of which has part of an eland-like head surviving. This buck has dimensions of 360 mm x 230 mm. There are also three fragmentary human figures paintings. There is an upside-down nested catenary curve. There is then a central red finger-painted motif enclosing two red lozenge shapes. There is an incomplete second such red finger-painted outline. These finger paintings may represent a Khoekhoen presence. There is also a painted and partially rubbed out arrow motif and a recent engraved 'd'-like shape.

South wall: Just outside the painted shelter are four pecked-infill engraved spoor - 1 antelope, 2 equid and a horseshoe-like spoor, probably also zebra. There are two other pecked areas. Less than 10 m from the paintings there are 5 more spoor associated with little dots/cupules.

Passageway: Between the south-eastern painted facet and the spoor engravings is a narrow passageway, formed where the rocks abut. Inside this passageway 2 m an in an area that gets no sunlight and which is dark, there is a very detailed rock painting of a kudu in red with white body stripes and no apparent head. This rock painting is very difficult to see and one wonders to what purpose it was placed here. It does not seem as if the engraved rock bloc rolled onto the painted shelter either, making it seem as though the artists intentionally sought out a dark and hidden location for her or his art.

Upstanding rock bloc complex: Immediately north-north-west of the painted overhang is a huge rock bloc complex that has Bushman rock engravings on it northern and western face. There is a pecked-outline equid, 2 fine pecked-infill giraffe - one large at 800 mm x 360 mm and the other with a very short neck, 3 very schematic animals in a rough pecked-outline. To the north is a third partial pecked-infill giraffe and perhaps an accompanying juvenile, part of which has flaked off. There is a schematic pecked-outline ?equid and the pecked-outline head of a third animal. A fourth giraffe emerges out of a large circular exfoliated area of rock. There may be an abraded groove below the main image cluster.