Collection UKH - Ukhahlamba Rock Art Mapping Project

UKH

Ukhahlamba Rock Art Mapping Project

Collection

Collection of artifacts

In discussions with conservation officials early in 2008 it was established that even though the main rock art sites are well known and documented, there are many other sites in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park (UDP) World Heritage Site that have recently either not been well documented or can no longer be found. However if the exact whereabouts of paintings are known then, clearly, they can be monitored and protected.

In order to fill this knowledge gap, in late 2008 Tommy Topp invited Michael Hochkofler and Barbara Müller to join him in the field as 'Honorary Field Rangers' to conduct a pilot project to properly map and document rock art sites in the Cobham management unit of the UDP. Using modern GPS technology, digital photography and a detailed compilation of the information, this pilot project proved to be of great help for the management of the Park and also of value to other stakeholders.

Then in early 2009 it was decided to roll-out the verification and documentation exercise to the entire UDP. By this time SOS Parks had been founded and joined up with the 'Rock Art Mapping Project' undertaken by the African Conservation Trust. In late 2009 the SOS Parks team (Tommy Topp and Michael Hochkofler) started with field work in the Royal Natal, Giant's Castle, Highmoor and Kamberg area. The project continued early in 2010 with the Cathedral Peak, Monk's Cowl, Injisuthi, Hillside and parts of Garden Castle area with an extended team (including Barbara Müller, Bernd Pfleger and Hanns Kirchmeir). Most of the Northern and Central Berg's conservation management units were finished by April 2010.

Date of aquisition: 19/11/2009
Date of aquisition from: 19/11/2009
Date of aquisition to: 19/11/2009

Background of the Recorder:Tommy Topp has had many years of experience hiking and leading hikes in the Natal Drakensberg Mountains for the Mountain Backpackers Club and a past member of the Mountain Club of South Africa. He also has a wealth of experience in Human Resources Management, General Manager and as an owner and founder of his own company in Austria.
At present he is experiencing a 'late-in-life' new direction to work for nature. He worked on a Master thesis about the value of San rock art in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park in the frame of Protected Area Management studies at the University of Klagenfurt in Austria, which was completed in June 2009.
Tommy is a co-founder of SOS Parks, an association of volunteers dedicated to the rescue of protected areas in danger. He leads a team of conservation experts from the SOS Parks network in this cultural resources conservation project.

Collection obtained from: Tommy Topp

Collection owner image: UKH.jpg

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