Item NASMUS-RSA-SHW1-12T.jpg - NASMUS RSA SHW1 12T

Brief description of site: The RSA-SHW1 'site' comprises the 6,28 m x 3,92 m engraved rock plate and an adjacent rock plate on which a Mafuvha or Tsoro board has been engraved. An impressive Olien sp. Tree is located right next to the site and may well have been a factor in site choice. The site has a commanding view to the S and SE into the Viervoetberg. A small seasonal runnel is located to the E of the site, which is on the edge of a ridge. Apart from the adjacent engraved Mafuvha board, no other associated archaeology was found within a 20 m radius of the site. The site is, however, less than 1 km from an extensive concentration of stone walling; most of which is Late Iron Age.The engravings are almost certainly Late Iron Age in date and made by Sotho-speaking farmers at some point between 200 - 500 years ago.
Brief description of art: The engraved panel is large (5,96m x 2,75m) and complex with over 60 lines, circles and so on. The engravings have been pecked out of the soft Clarens Formation sandstone; some in infill technique and some in outline. Most of the lines are quite thick (up to 20 mm), though one 'wiggly' line is thin and may constitute another engraving episode. There appears to have been a conscious use of the edge of the rock plate as well as a natural stone basin by the Late Iron Age artist(s). A 50 mm thick layer of soil covered the eastern end of the engraved panel. The engravings that were under this soil layer are less well preserved than the exposed engravings.

Gender: M
Nationality: South African
Created by: willem
Created on: 11/03/2003