Item IZI-NAM-TWT5-1.jpg - IZI NAM TWT5 1

Brief description of site: This site has both Bushman rock paintings and Bushman rock engravings. The site takes the form of a cluster of large rock blocs at the foot of the valley wall, approximately 600 m south west of NAM TWT4. The site is in a natural concavity on the valley profile on the 600 m contour. The largest, most squat rock bloc forms a good overhang shelter 10 m long, 2 m deep and up to 2 m high, facing south-east with good views to west and south but with no direct sight line to the main site complex. The mouth of the overhang is defined by a number of small rock blocs that act as a sand/deposit trap. This rock bloc abuts with another higher bloc to the west and forms a passage between the two rock blocs and, indeed, these two rock blocs can be said to make up two lobes of a single overhang. Behind and to the north and east of these blocs is a very large angled bloc that also bears engravings.

There is up to 0.6 m of reasonably fine, soft-ish and ashy archaeological deposit here. The site was obviously a favoured habitation place for the Bushmen in times past and there is a rich and extensive surface scatter of quartzite and hornfels stone tools of every description (see 'Associated Archaeology' of Site 1), ostrich eggshell fragments and beads, charcoal, bone and so forth. There is a possible lower grinding patch on one of the rock blocs at the mouth to the overhang.
Brief description of art: There are 3 concentrations of Bushman rock engravings, numbering about 40 images and one concentration of about 35 Bushman rock paintings.

Bushman rock paintings in Overhang site: The large overhang and living site bears on its back wall the remains of what must have been a densely and extensively painted frieze, which is now visible only in two areas -one at each lobe of the shelter. The largest cluster in the main lobe is 1.5 m x 0.9 m and is located immediately above the excavation. There are at least 18 human figures painted in red, light red, dark red and black paint. These human figures adopt a variety of postures such as running, running and looking over a shoulder, bending forward at the waist, sitting, standing, holding hand-to-nose. There are also two paired and rayed circle motifs that may represent the work of Khoekhoen herder peoples. The second area of painting in the site's western lobe has 7 human figures painted in red and depicted in an interlocked striding posture.

Engravings in and on top of Overhang passage: In between the overhang's western and eastern lobes is a natural passage. On the passage's steeply sloping eastern side there are engraved an oryx, a 270 mm x 210 mm zebra in fine partial pecked-infill, a wonderfully wiggly horned kudu bull that measures 500 mm x 300 mm, located near the edge of the rock bloc. The kudus legs are rather giraffe-like and this engraving is also a partial pecked-infill technique. Higher up on the rock there is an outline and partial pecked-infill giraffe associated with a pecked-infill animal that has lost its head. Highest up is a rough animal made in a scratched technique. On the lobes western and steeper wall there are two deeply pecked outline and lighter infill giraffe, one of which has dimensions of 620 mm x 420 mm. There is a smaller oryx and a larger animal here. For whom were these animal engravings meant to be seen? They are only visible when one is in the narrow passageway. On the western side of the western lobe there is a fine pecked-infill animal with long neck and no head.

Top of smaller lobe: On top of the smaller lobe (access the top by climbing up the western side of the rock bloc) is an image cluster of 1.4 m x 1 m on a concave and horizontal surface near the eastern edge of the rock bloc. There are 2 giraffe - one in pecked-infill and one in rough pecked-outline and rough pecked-infill. The legs end in spoor-hooves, which are depicted in twisted perspective. In pecked-infill there is a collection of a rhino, an ostrich, an oryx and a zebra with a 3-pronged head. There is also a possible human figure and a partial pecked-infill engraving of a rabbit-like animal, from which the site derives its name. In pecked-infill there is an equid and in pecked-outline there is an antelope. Lower down there is another, rather amorphous animal and on the western side there is a rough pecked-outline giraffe-like animal. 1 isolated animal. Good view from this site, but impossible to see unless one climbs up onto the top of the rock bloc.

Sloping slab behind overhang: Behind and about 60 m north-east of the overhang site on a 40° sloping and very flat rock bloc of big size (approximately 4 m x 3 m) with 3 fracture lines through it there are 23 engraved animals in pecked-outline, pecked-infill and partial pecked-infill techniques. Though the peck marks are quite large, they are finely done and the effect is of a fine-pecked engraving. There is a 1050 mm x 900 mm elephant and white rhino of similar size. There are at least 4 kudu, with the uppermost two having superb wiggly horns. There is an ostrich and a giraffe. 1 equid's legs end in spoor-like hooves in twisted perspective. There are six other rhino and an elephant, 2 other equids and a jackal-like animal. The engraved expanse is about 3.5 m x 2.5 m.

Outlier rock: To the east of the overhang site, lower down and about 80 m away right above the hiking trail is an angular rock bloc of medium size on which are engraved two giraffe in pecked-infill and in partial pecked-infill. The one giraffe has dimensions of 43 cm x 36 cm.