Item MAL-CHN1-14.jpg - BWS MAL CHN1 14

Gender: M
Nationality: British
Created by: azizo
Created on: 20/02/2003
Amended by: azizo
Amended on: 21/11/2014

Brief description of site: A large rock shelter with around 50m2 of protected floor. Facing west, low on the
southern slope of Mwana Wa Chencherere hill. Excavated in 1972 by J.D. Clark. Excellent
protection from rain though somewhat exposed to wind. A natural habitation site,
demonstrated as having been used as such by excavation.
Brief description of art: The back wall of the shelter is smothered in pictographs. Most areas are well
protected and relatively well preserved. A few areas are flaking due to water seepage,
towards the left end washing has removed an area of pictographs. The degree of protection
suggests that pictographs of considerable antiquity could survive here. The shelter is much
visited due to its notoriety, as a consequence all pictographs within reach have been blurred
by touching and rubbing. Too many pictographs to describe individually, see sketch. The
majority of pictographs are large daubed spread-eagled motifs applied in white. The size
and detailed shape of each spread-eagled motif varies. Also in daubed white are a few
snake-like meanders and a few simple geometric designs and dots. Earlier red designs
applied by finger can be made out underneath the white motifs in some places. These are
mainly circles and sets of parallel lines. Variations in shape, pigment and state of
preservation give the impression that the pictographs have built up over a considerable
period, painted by many different artists.