ZOOMORPHIC ENGRAVINGS ON ROCK WALL IN THE POST-PALEOLITHIC

Museum of the Origins of Man

POST-PALEOLITHIC ZOOMORPHIC ENGRAVINGS ON ROCK WALL

Fig. 33A4) Rupestrian graffito depicting a cervid.
Origin: islet of Ausevick, Norway.
NOTE: These petroglyphs on cliff are highlighted with a side light. The dark color on this graffito was given for photographic purposes, such as light color for graffiti Figg. 33A2 - 33A3 - 33A5.

Fig. 32A4) Giant buffalo and ostrich.
Dating: between 9 000 and 10 000 years ago.
Working technique: engraving by scraping on tender rock cliffs.
In Tassili-n-Ajjer, Sahara, South Algeria, there are between 400,000 and 500,000 works like this one, dating from the Mesolithic to the historical times, as the shepherds continued this work. Undoubtedly, this is the largest place of worship with rupestrian graffiti in the world, and counts about 15,000 rock paintings and engravings.

Fig. 33A6) Rock graffito of an elephant with her little one.
Origin: Gestopftefontein, South Africa.
It was a sacred place dedicated to femininity and female initiation: Khoe-San's ceremonies were intended to welcome newly initiated women into the new social role.
Dating: more than 10,000 years ago or so.
It is work of Bushmen, probably with a technical and artistic tradition different from that of the Bushmen who produced paintings.
NOTE: It is likely that this fragment of rock with graffiti was detached from the cliff by a collector in the nineteenth century, and then removed from the original place of worship.

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