Mamuno rock engravings

Near the border between southwest Botswana and Namibia lies a group of rocky outcrops which form part of the Olifants Kloof, Kangumene Village, and the Mamuno Border Post sites. This area contains impressive rock engravings made by past hunter-gatherer communities. Finely etched or pecked in detail, a variety of forms can be seen including animals, human figures, foot and hoof prints, and geometric shapes. The presence of the diversity of engraved spoor in combination with oval-shaped grooves and cupules reflect the significance of the area as a place for important daily and ceremonial activities and the linking of two worlds – the spiritual and the everyday.

The landscape also bears traces of past settlements in the form of stone walling made by Bantu-language speaking agro-pastoralists. These sites are of immense cultural importance. They are however being threatened by human and natural impacts such as graffiti, vandalism and weathering.

Click on the images to enlarge.

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Did you know?

The geometric shapes seen in the Mamuno rock engravings are believed to be the markers made by San shamans during trance dance.

Sources

1. Lewis-Williams, J.D. & Dowson, T.A. (1990). Through the veil: San rock paintings and the rock face. South African Archaeological Bulletin, 45, 5–16 [Link]
2. Lewis-Williams, J.D., Blundell, G., Challis, W. & Hampson, J. (2000). Threads of light: re-examining a motif in southern African San rock art. South African Archaeological Bulletin, 55, 123–136 [Link]
3. Litherland, M., Litherland, A.R., and Sekwale, M.  (1975). Rock Engravings from Mamuno. Botswana Notes and Records, 7, 19-28.
4. Van Der Ryst, M., Marlize Lombard, M., and Biemond, W. (2004). Rocks of Potency: Engravings and Cupules from the Dovedale Ward, Southern Tuli Block, Botswana. South African Archaeological Bulletin, 59(179), 1–11 [Link]