Item NASMUS-RSA-MPC1-35.jpg - NASMUS RSA MPC1 35

Brief description of site: This site is located at one of the highest points in the area with a magnificent view to almost all points. The rock is a hard granite that weathers to a light and sometimes dark brown but speckled appearance. The site covers several hundred metres, running down the ridge line that proceeds from the hill summit. A fence line cuts through the site.

Unusually, there is no visible associated archaeology. No stone tools, pottery, bone, stone-walled structures or any other cultural indicator. There is only the path to the hill summit. A survey of the surrounding area also revealed no artefacts. The altitude of the site would militate against this being a living site for any cultural group.
Brief description of art: RSA MPC1`s rock-engravings all have a grey, relatively fresh-looking appearance. The engraved marks are unlikely to be older than approximately 50 years as natural weathering causes such grey marks to weather to a light brown colour. Though some of the rock-engravings were discovered under protective rock cappings, natural seepage would still have weathered the rocks. The rock-engravings are, however, tremendously interesting. Here is a brief description of each engraved rock.

Hill Summit Rock 1: On a large flat rock next to the path is a remarkable 950 mm x 1 000 mm rosette-like circular motif consisting of concentric rings of short, sausage like grooves around a central 'dot'.

Hill Summit Rock 2: On an adjacent flat rock is a lock' of 5 rows of 10 thick grooves.

Hill Summit Rock 3: On a long, flat rock there is a 2 m + row consisting of 3 - 4 sausage-like grooves that extends in track-like fashion. It is possible that the facing, shorter grooves were meant to join up and were, for some reason, left incomplete. Some of this engraved panel was covered over purposefully with rocks.

Hill Summit Rock 4: Adjacent rock to the 3 has a tree-like design engraved out and which then seems to have been covered over with a large rock.

Hill Summit Rock 5: Now placed near 1, was a boulder on which an arms-raised male human figure was engraved on the vertical surface. The 'W' shape of the arms is unusual and distinctive.

Hill Summit Rock 6: 10 m beyond 1-5 on the other side of the fence line is a small flat rock on which two human figures have been engraved. The larger figure has its arms raised in the distinctive 'W' fashion. This figure has either a large stomach or large buttocks. Very unusually, it has what appear to be breasts, sculpted in a bas-relief. The smaller human figure has a portion of unengraved rock in its torso. This smaller human figure also has its arms up in a W shape. The smaller figure also has feet. Neither of these figures has a distinct head represented.

Ridge Rock 7: Less then 100 m downslope is the 1.4 m 'Thermometer' motif that consists of two parallel engraved lines from which a series of shorter lines regularly radiate at right angles. These shorter lines exhibit patterning such as two shorter grooves alternating with a single longer groove, though this patterning is not consistent. It seems as if all or part of this engraving was also purposefully covered or capped with medium-sized loose rocks.

Ridge Rock 8: Between 7 and 6 is an unusual 'PI' motif consisting of two short parallel grooves with their one end capped by a third similar groove, giving an appearance similar to the mathematical symbol for Pi. This motif was also covered.

Ridge Rock 9: Between 7 and 8 is an engraving that is partially covered by earth. This unusual design consists of a central 4 -pointed star-like motif with 'V' shapes nestling between the arms of the 'star'. It is noticeable how the earth has weathered the one half of this motif while the above-ground portion looks very fresh.