Identity area
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Title
Date(s)
- 01/11/1991 (Creation)
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Brief description of art: Site is directly opposite RH I on the Western bank of the spruit. The paintings are in a low shelter, aproximately 1400mm high. Preservation is good and paintings are clear in places. Site consistes of a number of panels. The extreme left panel is 600mm high and 2000mm wide. It contains a number of depictions of eland. On of the elands, which is 148mm high and 300mm wide, has its head down and has lines coming from its front legs and neck. It is superimposed on a human figure. Another two elands appear to be charging each other. The eland on the left is 180mm high and 345mm wide, and the eland on the right is 190mm high and 400mm wide. The eland on the right is associated with a running figure. The rock face of this panel has been extensively painted but all detail has vanished, and only the remains of some white figures and an eland can be detected.
A second panel exists 4m to the right of the first one. It contains a seated figure with a white headdress. The figure, unfortunately, is not clear. A small, reclining antelope (30mm high and 110mm wide) is depicted just above this figure. Another antelope in a running posture and two small figures, all of which are unclear are also depicted. Colours not recorded in original fieldnotes.
The third panel is to be found approximately 4m to the right of panel 2. The panel consists of at least 4 layers of paintings. The 6 elands of the top layer are still clear. One of the eland is looking into the rock face. Two more elands arepainted on a facet slightly to the left. One of these is in a reclining position.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Nationality: South African
Created by: azizo
Created on: 18/02/2003
Name of creator
Biographical history
Name of creator
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Repository
Archival history
Date donated to: 17/08/1995
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The eland was the first animal that the San trickster deity, /Kaggen created and it remained his favourite.
The eland is the largest of southern African antelope and is much desired for its meat and fat. The San say that all other animals are like servants to the eland.
The importance of this animal is shown in the great variety of postures and perspectives. It is depicted running with tail outstretched, with uplifted head smelling the wind, and upside down, presumably dead. The eland is also depicted from the front or from the back, and even from above.
The eland appears in four important San rituals it is the most carefully depicted antelope in both rock paintings and engravings: Trance dance, boy's first kill, girl's puberty and marriage. It is believed that eland fat contains a lot of potency and in a trance dance shamans aspire to possess eland potency.
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Language of material
- English
Script of material
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Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Original size: 35mm