IDNO

LS.167904.LAR

Description

Close-up of rock art paintings of a herd of eland antelopes, and just visible some human figures, located in a fissure cave near Whitewater. [JD 27/11/2023]

Place

S Africa; Zimbabwe; Mosi-o-Tunya; Matopo Hills; Whitewater [Victoria Falls]

Cultural Affliation

Named Person

Photographer

None

Collector / Expedition

Armstrong, A. Leslie [Prehistoric Society of East Anglia]

Date

circa 1927 - 1929

Collection Name

Armstrong Collection

Source

Format

Lantern Slide Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

LS.167808.LAR - LS.167909.LAR were found unaccessioned in drawer S.319.

Bibliography Reference: Armstrong, A. Leslie. "Rhodesian Archæological Expedition (1929): Excavations in Bambata Cave and Researches on Prehistoric Sites in Southern Rhodesia." The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland 61 (1931): 239–76.
Text on p. 267. includes: "Nswatugi Cave.
This is a fissure cave, situated about four miles east of Whitewater, in the heart of the Matopos, and contains an important and extensive series of wall-paintings which are, with a few exceptions, rather later in date than those of Bambata Cave and exhibit a more advanced technique (P1. XXXV, Fig. 3). The cave was discovered by the Rev. Neville Jones, and is described in his book 'The Stone Age in Rhodesia.' From an examination of the implements collected by him from a trial excavation in the floor of the cave, and supported by personal investigations there on two occasions, I am satisfied that Upper Bambata culture is present beneath the Wilton level, as a study of the superimposed paintings leads one to anticipate. There is reason to believe that the floor deposit here is a deep one, and that when the cave is excavated an interesting stratification will be obtained.
The Wilton industry is a later phase than that of Bambata, as already noted. It is unusually well represented here and, studied in conjunction with the wall-paintings, it should yield valuable results and will probably prove to be a type station of later Rhodesian Wilton. The range of tools is a wide one, and they show an advanced technique. Bone tools of good workmanship were found by Mr. Jones, also pierced bone and stone amulets, and exquisitely made pigmy borers in clear quartz, in addition to the usual pigmy crescents and scrapers. Pigmy burins were obtained during our superficial examination of the floor and tools of Bambata culture, when a small trial hole was dug." [Source: https://doi.org/10.2307/2843833, JD 27/11/2023]