Item NASMUS-RSA-KTT1-7.jpg - NASMUS RSA KTT1 7

Brief description of site: RSA KTT1 is an NNE-facing 8 m wide, up to 2m high and up to 2 m deep in in debased Clarens Formation sandstone on the 1 500 m contour. The site has a rock floor with a large central rock and inner recess. The site overlooks an eroded plain and is on the edge of a donga. This plain was once a wetland and seeps and seasonal water still occur. The bush cover immediately around the site is of medium density.

Because the site has a rock floor, there has not been a build-up of archaeological deposit and all artefacts occur on the talus slope, dispersed below the site. Some stone tools occur 60 m downhill from the site. There are a few visible surface scatters of lithics on both opalines (crypto-crystalline silicates) and hornfels (indurated shale) rocks. There are chips, chunks and cores; all of which suggest that this shelter was used as a home by the San in times past. There are also numerous finished lithics in the form of endscrapers - used to work leather; adzes - used to work wood; and flakes - used as general purpose cutting tools. No bone, charcoal, ostrich eggshell or leather remains were noted. There are at least 4 lower grinding patches within the site. There is remnant sections of stone wall on the very south-eastern end of the site; this was probably built by herders in Historic times.
Brief description of art: There are 27 visible Bushman rock paintings in black, red and white paint in the site. There is a group of 8 + black painted human figures with well-defined legs. Some of these figures carry knobkieries and arrows. There are also 3 large (250 mm +) human figures slightly lower down. In a very low recess is a white human figure with an odd hand that appears to end in a buck head. The figure has 'spiky hair' - probably indicating that the figure is carry arrows in a bandeaux fillleted around its head. This the Bushmen did when they wished to fire many arrows quickly. There are further white painted figures holding bows. There is also a 250 mm long red painted quadruped - possibly an eland (Tragelaphus oryx).