Item NASMUS-RSA-HNG1-6.jpg - NASMUS RSA HNG1 6

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.