About Rock Art
Ancient rock art depicting animals and San occur throughout Southern Africa and our country, Zimbabwe, has a considerable number. Thousands of rock paintings were discovered in caves and up kopjes, and from a youngster I would delight in exploring them. The colours used to paint on the rocks were generally obtained from minerals in natural deposits located near the sites of these paintings. The ‘reds and yellows were usually ‘from the oxides of iron, haematite and limonite. It is not known what was mixed with the colour to make it adhere so well, possibly gum from Acacia trees, latex from Euphorbias, blood, urine, animal fat, egg white or yolk and any combination of them. Age of rock art obtained for the cultures found in middens below the paintings using Isotopic Carbon 14 method, dates range from more than 60 000 years to 1000 years ago.’ (Source: A Guide to rock Art of Rhodesia by C.K.Cook).
Ancient rock art depicting animals and San occur throughout Southern Africa and our country, Zimbabwe, has a considerable number. Thousands of rock paintings were discovered in caves and up kopjes, and from a youngster I would delight in exploring them. The colours used to paint on the rocks were generally obtained from minerals in natural deposits located near the sites of these paintings. The ‘reds and yellows were usually ‘from the oxides of iron, haematite and limonite. It is not known what was mixed with the colour to make it adhere so well, possibly gum from Acacia trees, latex from Euphorbias, blood, urine, animal fat, egg white or yolk and any combination of them. Age of rock art obtained for the cultures found in middens below the paintings using Isotopic Carbon 14 method, dates range from more than 60 000 years to 1000 years ago.’ (Source: A Guide to rock Art of Rhodesia by C.K.Cook).
Julie Anne Edwards with Bushmen Guide at Tsodilo Hills World Heritage Site - Photo copyright www.julieannedwards.com 2012
