Item RARI-LEE-RSA-LOR2-12.jpg - RARI LEE RSA LOR2 12

Brief description of site: The rock floor of this bilobial shelter has only a few opaline flakes; the San probably swept off the rest of the artefacts on a regular basis onto the slope below. On this slope there are more stone artefacts; principally flakes. River flooding prevents the preservation of organic materials - the bone that is visible on the surface being of recent date.
Brief description of art: There are approximately 65 individual rock-paintings; mostly of San authorship with a few Khoe fingerdots. There are eland, human figures including 17 red human figures in a rows. At least four of these figures are identifiably male, possible cattle and a snake-like figure that may be a creature-of-the-water similar to the rain animal. What makes this site special is its detailed and very well-preserved Medicine Dance.

The Medicine Dance: In a natural rock hollow there are 32 red human figures in a variety of postures. The Dance is dominated by a large, bending forward human figures. 3 figures assume the arms-back posture diagnostic of the Medicine Dance. 1 interesting figure appears to have a 'broken' back while 2 other figures are depicted upside-down. 10 of the dancers have jackal heads and are thus therianthropes or transformed shamans. There is a central human figure in black with a shield-like motif. There is also a red and white human figure. 4 figures have 2 different kinds of karos and 2 seated figures have buck-like horns.

The rock floor of this bilobial shelter has only a few opaline flakes; the San probably swept off the rest of the artefacts on a regular basis onto the slope below. On this slope there are more stone artefacts; principally flakes. River flooding prevents the preservation of organic materials - the bone that is visible on the surface being of recent date.