Identity area
Type of entity
Site
Authorized form of name
Rietfontein I 82
Parallel form(s) of name
- Spring Valley I
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
RSA RIO1
Description area
Dates of existence
History
Brief description of art: 'Crude' paintings of humans (with rifles) and Ostriches.
Places
Steynsburg
Legal status
Functions, occupations and activities
Conservation action taken: Conservation
The paintings in this site are generally in fairly good condition, besides the flaking in the central panel. Of concern from a conservation perspective are the swallows' nests encroaching on the paintings in some of the panels. Swallows pose the dangers of building mud nests directly over paintings and of mud from nests washing across paintings.
A second problem is that there is some scratched graffiti in the left hand side of the shelter. It stops just short of the paintings. Graffiti not only damages the intrinsic value of the site, but is also illegal in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act.
A further potential problem is that sheep are entering the shelter. They are not currently rubbing against the paintings, but there is a danger that they may do so. The most serious problem in the shelter is in the central panel. The lower part of the panel is flaking off in large sections. One flake (about 15 x 20 cm in maximum dimensions) has already dislodged from the wall and was found on the floor below the panel. It contains (along its upper margin) traces of paint that are the feet of at least one of the figures in the panel above. A further painted flake is loose and will soon detach from the wall of the shelter.
Recommendations
To prevent future conservation problems, it is recommended that the following measures be put in place:
Strangers should only visit the site with the permission of, and accompanied by, the farm owners.
Large groups of people should not be taken to the site; they will create excessive dust that will settle on and obscure the paintings.
Conservation needed: yes
Monitoring plan established: yes
The paintings in this site are generally in fairly good condition, besides the flaking in the central panel. Of concern from a conservation perspective are the swallows' nests encroaching on the paintings in some of the panels. Swallows pose the dangers of building mud nests directly over paintings and of mud from nests washing across paintings.
A second problem is that there is some scratched graffiti in the left hand side of the shelter. It stops just short of the paintings. Graffiti not only damages the intrinsic value of the site, but is also illegal in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act.
A further potential problem is that sheep are entering the shelter. They are not currently rubbing against the paintings, but there is a danger that they may do so. The most serious problem in the shelter is in the central panel. The lower part of the panel is flaking off in large sections. One flake (about 15 x 20 cm in maximum dimensions) has already dislodged from the wall and was found on the floor below the panel. It contains (along its upper margin) traces of paint that are the feet of at least one of the figures in the panel above. A further painted flake is loose and will soon detach from the wall of the shelter.
Recommendations
To prevent future conservation problems, it is recommended that the following measures be put in place:
Strangers should only visit the site with the permission of, and accompanied by, the farm owners.
Large groups of people should not be taken to the site; they will create excessive dust that will settle on and obscure the paintings.
Conservation needed: yes
Monitoring plan established: yes
Mandates/sources of authority
General context
Relationships area
Access points area
Subject access points
Place access points
Occupations
Control area
Authority record identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Partial
Dates of creation, revision and deletion
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Maintenance notes
When was site visited: 20/04/2004
When was site visited earliest: 20/04/2004
When was site visited latest: 20/04/2004
Who has been to site: Pearce, David
When was site visited earliest: 20/04/2004
When was site visited latest: 20/04/2004
Who has been to site: Pearce, David