Item RARI-RSA-GLL1-15.jpg - RARI RSA GLL1 15

Brief description of site: This site is an ESE facing 35.62 m long medium-sized overhang in a side valley of the Vlooikraalspruit. The shelter floor is level with a combination of consolidated sand, mudstone, rock and rock-tumble (2 places). There is an undercut giving a tier to the site. The site is arched and somewhat ocular (eye-shaped) and inconspicuous when viewed from afar.

There is very little deposit - less than 10 cm - in the shelter. There are, however, many lithics (stone tools) on the surface. These stone tools are made from opaline, gemstone-like rocks as well as hornfels or river cobbles. Most of the artefacts are on the talus or scree slope immediately below the shelter. There is some stone walling in the shelter as well as patches of rock used for lower grindstones. There are also areas of rock used to sharpen or straighten metal objects. The two rock piles seem natural, but are unusual.
Brief description of art: There are approximately 120 individual San rock-paintings in the shelter located on either side of the large fissure in the rock.

Right Hand Side: This image cluster covers 2.2 m x 1 m and the imagery includes a red and white felines painted in great detail with red body spots. There is also a red and white human figure drawing a bow with an exquisite nocked arrow. Very unusual is a cloud of finger dots that appear to be human heads - a regional feature more common of the Floukraal area. There is a cluster of over 22 red human figures in dance-like poses. The figures are, bar one exception, thin and there is another figure drawing a bow. There are also 5 red and red/white therianthropes (part-human and part-animal figures). Two of these figures are 270 mm tall and have hooves rather than feet and wear karoses (leather cloaks).

Left Hand Side: This 2.8 m x 0.8 m image cluster has at least 5 large red/white and black seated and standing human figures that are remarkable on account of their very large heads; complete with detailed facial features and decorations. Two of these heads measure 200 mm x 200 mm. It seems as if one face even shows a beard. Below are three finely painted white human figures with red detail. Two of these figures are recumbent and have spread-apart legs in the posture known as the 'Mother Goddess' pose. These figures are surrounded by finely painted arrows - most unusual. There are also at least a dozen finely-painted red/white /black eland (Tragelaphus oryx). There are also two very tall white human figures, one of which bends forward. There are a further two unidentifiable buck in red outline and an unusual red ochre crayon sketch of an animal.

Rock tumble: On the middle rock stack are faded remains of paintings but now only buck and human figures are visible.