Item RARI-RSA-RES1-1R.jpg - RARI RSA RES1 1R

Brief description of site: RSA RES1 has two sites - the larger and less well-preserved is located in the large rock tumble immediately at the picnic spot. The better-preserved is this site, located 50 m SW of the picnic spot on the 1840 m contour. This small, curved and not very sheltered shelter is located just above the vlei. There is not much in the way of floor, which slopes and is marshy.

Because of its proximity to the vlei and because it is flooded from time to time the chances of preservation of organic remains such as bone, leather and wood are remote. There are a few lithics; mostly hornfels (indurated shale or lydianite) and a small area of stone walling on the eastern end.
Brief description of art: There are less than two dozen individual San rock-paintings in the shelter. These occur on the eastern and western extremities of the shelter:

Eastern end: Just above and to the right of the stone walling are rock-paintings, mostly in black, of cattle. There are also spear-wielding black human figures; some of these may have shields. There are the remains of red eland, but water wash has almost obliterated all of these paintings. There is also an eland midway between eastern and western ends.

Western end: Under a rock ledge is a cluster of 5 images occupying 600 mm by 200 mm of rock. There are two very singular bending forward part-human and part animal beings in red, black and white pigment. A thin red line connects these beings; the foremost figure looks over its shoulder with its 'brush-cut' head and has white dots along its belly and spine. There is a seated black human figure and two unidentifiable pigment smudges.