Learning with granny Science for Cyberkids

Learning with Granny!
Rock Art

"What are you doing Ann?" asked Margie. Before Ann had a chance to tell her, Lee posed a question - "Can't you see? She's drawing. She always sticks her tongue way out when she draws and it moves about busily all the time".

"Maybe her brain knows she's trying to tell a story so that others will understand what she means and it's trying to allow her to tell it with words," commented Vinny hoping that the others would understand what he meant.

'That's not a new idea Vinny," said Granny rather surprised at his perception. "It's similar to when people use their hands to express themselves better or to add emphasis to what they are saying." "Creating a work of art, sign language and speech are all forms of communication that have been used for many centuries," she went on.

"Can I ask Ann what she is doing now please?" asked Margie. Ann uncovered her sketch-pad to reveal a pencil sketch she had been working on.

Granny had been telling the children about a holiday they had had many years ago which included a visit to some wonderful caves. She brought out an old scrap book with pictures of the San people or "Bushmen" and also beautiful views of the inside of the caves. Enter the picture on the right to see the page from Granny's scrapbook.

Although Granny and the children still had to learn more about the fossil sites of hominids in Africa on their Time Trip, they were all keen to understand how Early Humans communicated their life story to us.

They hadn't had much time to talk about the Rock Art - but Granny suggested that the children look through some of her books and find some pictures to copy or something of interest they would like to share or know about how the early inhabitants of South Africa communicated with us through their art.

"Bushman" Rock art, some dating back to just 1,200 years ago, can be found throughout East, Central and Southern Africa, where their early homes were natural rock shelters. The earliest known rock paintings in Southern Africa are approximately
27 000 years old. They were familiar with every animal and bird imaginable and took a great delight in capturing their daily life style on the 'canvas' of their protected home environment.

As their descendants today, they were small people with a delicate bone structure who only wore loin cloths and maybe an apron and a skin kaross if it was cold. Some used to paint their bodies and wear ornaments made from ostrich egg shells and narrow leather thongs. They had very few possessions so they could travel lightly and found food along the way where they went.

When Ann had finished her drawing the others went off and brought their pictures so everyone could see them. "Let's sit down and you can all share what your pictures are about" said Granny.

"Can I go first please?" asked Terry - who had made a few notes on a piece of paper as well. "I was very impressed with the paintings of the "Bushmen". They were keen observers and painted what they saw. They were very good at using the colours and texture of the rock surface as part of their overall picture and didn't waste paint or time on unnecessary background details. I couldn't capture the beautiful shading they used or the delicate outlines of their subjects but their pictures communicated to me that they were full of joy at being able to share their life style, their pride in themselves as people and artists and in their culture and beliefs."

"Your picture is lovely Terry," praised Granny. "Where did you find the information?'
"In the library book, he replied." (1)

Ann looked as if she would burst so Granny said, "Come on Ann - what's your picture about?" "I just made up my own idea. It's about all of us one day going to a beautiful big cave where someone has cut out steps so people can walk down to an underground river and go for a ride on a boat." Enter the image to the right to see Ann's whole picture.

"It's a great cave "said Vinny - "look there are some examples of rock art on the walls". "I like the stalactites and the stalagmites she has drawn in her cave" said Lee, realising that his sister had really had to concentrate on her picture and feeling a bit ashamed that he had teased her.

"I remember what Granny said about those," said Margie "The stalactites go down and the Stalagmites grow up". "Well done Margie," said Granny. "How did you remember that"
"Well I just remembered the way you told us how to remember which was which: the stalagtites have to hold on 'tight' while the stalagmites 'might' grow to the top!"

"I like the San pictures of animals," said Vinny exhibiting his picture, "so I chose one that showed a lot of different animals. The San have a great respect for animals and were experts at drawing them."

"I did one that show lots of people with their bows and arrows." said Margie briefly as she laid her picture on the table and sat down.

She jumped up again and went on, "I found one picture that had some ostrich in it and I love the ostrich. I remember when we went to the ostrich farm.

"I like drawing people so I chose some of the very good 'action' figures in different positions. These ancient artists had some lovely ideas and were very good at what they did," concluded Lee.

"Your pictures are lovely,' said Granny laying them all out on the table. "You have all captured the scenes that the San people communicated in their rock art creations. I have done a little map to show where Rock Art sites can be found. Let's combine our efforts to tell the story." Enter the picture to the right to see how they combined the pictures.

The early San artists were gifted people with wonderful imaginations and a great zest for living. Their art works revealed their knowledge of nature and their environment."

"Tell us some more about the San people Granny," begged Ann paging through the lovely Rock Art book. Granny had met descendants of the San in the Kalahari.

Enter the images to the right which shows the hand work of the San. Two hand carved drums and some tiny snuff containers as well as a wooden spoon. All decorated by burnt carved decoration and finished off with narrow leather thong handles for transporting.

As a group, the San have declined in numbers and only a very few now live in the Kalahari.

To find out more about the Bushmen

Visit these sites on the Internet:
South African Museum
http://www.museums.org.za/sam/resource/arch/khoisan.htm
http://www.museums.org.za/sam/resource/arch/diorama.htm (nice graphics)

National Museum Bloemfontein
http://www.nasmus.co.za/rockart/sites.htm (for information on where rockart sites are located)

Science in Africa magazine
Visit http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2002/august/san.htm - Creating an awareness of computer science to help preserve the San culture.

Books on Rock Art (1).
'The Rock Art of South Africa' by A.R. Willcox - with forward by Prof. J.Desmond Clark.

Information on "Bushmen"
See list of books on 'Show an Tell" See Granny's page in December:- most have chapters on San

"Bushmen" and their Rock Art.
http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2001/granny/august.htm - for 'Starlor Legend' and a quote by Laurens van der Post about the Bushman.