Item NASMUS-RSA-SUI1-2.jpg - NASMUS RSA SUI1 2

Brief description of site: The RSA SUI1 rock shelter measures 40 m x 8 m and is up to 4 m high with a secondary ledge above the main shelter. The shelter floor has been levelled. The shelter has formed out of Clarens Formation sandstone. The site was used as a quarry and there are many sandstone blocs and fragments lying in the cave. Extensive fires have caused widespread damage. There is a fair amount of montane vegetation surrounding the site, but not excessive. A tributary of the Grootspruit runs directly below and next to the site.

There was extensive archaeological deposits at the site, though this has now been disturbed and levelled. There are very many opaline/crypt-crystalline silicate stone tools that belong to the Later Stone Age (c. 30 000 years ago until c. 1850 AD). There are also traces of historic occupancy of the shelter. There are two quarried sandstone blocs with paintings on at the West end of the shelter. The shelter is quite damp and bone has not preserved. Just on from the shelter there are finger impressions on a mud panel that relate to Sotho boy's initiation, as well as marks at the East site entrance.
Brief description of art: The RSA SUI1 rock paintings belong to several different periods and cover many centuries. Some of the older paintings executed in the 'Classic' or older manner seem very old. These paintings relate strongly to Bushman religion, which is known as shamanism.

The entrance panel: At the East entrance to the cave there is a panel with at least 20 human figures painted in red and a very faded white. The human figures appear to be in a procession.

The central panel: In the cave's central portion there is a large 30 cm eland in red, white and black; a shaded polychrome eland and 3 red ?hartbeest in a deep red. There are at least 8 human figures, some running in an animated style doing the 'splits'. There are many faded animal torsos.

Other images: Scattered at various parts of the shelter are human and animal figures. Some are covered by soot, some by calcite. The whole cave must have been one huge gallery in its day.