San Rock Art

There are more than 15,000 San rock art sites in South Africa. These pictures were taken from three locations: Giant’s Castle (Main Cave), Injasuti (Battle Cave), and Kamberg. They range in age from hundreds to thousands of years old. The pigments were made from iron oxide (red), kaolin (white), manganese oxide (black). The pictures represent what the artist saw while in a religious trance. Hence the distorted body shapes, floating bodies. and men with animal appendages.

The eland, a large antelope, had religious significance for the Koisan (San). It was a powerful animal and is depicted over and over in the San art.

The large figure with the huge shoulders is a shaman. Women are ususally depicted as dancing and playing music.

These two white rhinos were on the underside of a large fallen rock. Ron had to lie on the ground to take this picture.

Floating figures are shooting arrows (thought to represent power).

Figures are floating or flying over the eland. There appear to be three shaman figures in this picture.

These two figures have animal heads and walk upright on cloven feet.

Our most excellent photographer. Note bandage on right thumb. This is prior to second knife incident.