Archaeology

khoisan family

Khoisan Family

Some examples of Khoisan Art found in Southern Africa

rock engraving of elephant

Rock Engraving of Elephant


rock painting of antelope herd

Rock Painting of Antelope


rock painting of hunting

Rock Painting of Hunting


rock painting of running people

Rock Painting of Running People


rock engraving of antelope

Rock Engraving of  Antelope


rock engravings and paintings in cave

Rock Engravings - Paintings in Cave


rock painting of people with weapons

Rock Painting of People with Weapons


rock painting of antelope hunting

Rock Painting of Hunting

Khoisan (Bushman) 


Khoisan art exists throughout the Mpumalanga hills and mountains. The art represents a window looking into the lives of the San hunters and gatherers, who inhabited the area centuries before the arrival of the Nguni people from the north. The San mined Red Ochre in an area known as Dumaneni. The mine is estimated to be between 28500 and 46000 years old. The San obtained color pigments from the Ochre for their Rock Paintings. Archaeologists have found stone terraced walls, religious icons and grave sites in the Mpumalanga area including Barberton that indicate a link to Hindu culture. These Asian people traveled inland from the mouth of the Komati River in Mozambique and established cultural and residential centers. The name "Komati" is the same name as the name of a well known Indian trading tribe, while the Nguni and Swahili word for cattle, "Ngombe" is also the word for horned cattle in the same Indian language. Info obtained from "Mpumalanga A Tourist Guide" publication. There are currently no tours from Barberton to the Khoisan or other Archaeological sites. Tours are in the process of being set up, watch this site for more details.

Swazi

swazi hut


Swazi traditional hut. There is evidence of the Swazi occupying the area of Swaziland as it is currently known, as well as Barberton and surrounding areas during the middle of the eighteenth century. The Swazi Chiefs and Priests painted their bodies with a mixture of Red Ochre powder and animal fat enabling great power. The Swazi named the Ochre " ludvumane" meaning power four times the sound of thunder.

Red Ochre Mine

red ochre mine


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