Entries (RSS) Discovering Southern African Rock Art
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Ancient rock art intrigues everyone. The paintings and engravings emblazoned on the rocks of southern Africa call to us from the distant past, but their message had long been considered obscure: after all, it comes to us from a vanished way of life. Yet recent research has managed to piece together that message and we now know that this stunningly beautiful and amazingly detailed art tells us about the religious experiences of the San (Bushmen) who made it: centuries ago the San believed that the art carried messages from the spirit world. This book traces the story behind that research, hoe it started, its failures and successes and some of its debates. In ways not previously attempted it goes on to link the art to the people who made it. They have been regarded as wandering ‘children of the desert’ and their art seen as childish daubing. The San have suffered persecution and in the south, virtual extermination. Those who made the art are now no more, but their paintings and engravings remain as a fragile symbol of hope in southern Africa. Price (ZA) R121.00 |
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