{"id":6434,"date":"2025-06-18T09:15:36","date_gmt":"2025-06-18T09:15:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.fsonlinetest.fs.gov.za\/?page_id=6434"},"modified":"2025-09-29T13:29:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T11:29:29","slug":"san-rock-art-in-free-state","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.fsonline.fs.gov.za\/?page_id=6434","title":{"rendered":"San Rock Art in Free State"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"6434\" class=\"elementor elementor-6434\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67ec34d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"67ec34d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;container_type&quot;:&quot;flex&quot;,&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-86fca8f exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"86fca8f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 25-10-2023 *\/\n.elementor-column .elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--spacer-size)}.e-con{--container-widget-width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer{width:var(--container-widget-width,var(--spacer-size));--align-self:var(--container-widget-align-self,initial);--flex-shrink:0}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container{height:100%;width:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer{height:100%}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer>.elementor-widget-container>.elementor-spacer>.elementor-spacer-inner{height:var(--container-widget-height,var(--spacer-size))}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty{position:relative;min-height:22px;min-width:22px}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;margin:auto;padding:0;width:22px;height:22px}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c99c945 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c99c945\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;container_type&quot;:&quot;flex&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3c5df95 exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3c5df95\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 25-10-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">San Rock Art in the Free State<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b175dd e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3b175dd\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;container_type&quot;:&quot;flex&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t<div data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c4c6396 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-child\" data-id=\"c4c6396\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;container_type&quot;:&quot;flex&quot;,&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;boxed&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-417fa2e e-grid e-con-full e-con e-child\" data-id=\"417fa2e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;container_type&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;grid_rows_grid&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;fr&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:1,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;grid_outline&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;grid_columns_grid&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;fr&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:3,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;grid_columns_grid_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;fr&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;grid_columns_grid_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;fr&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:1,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;grid_rows_grid_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;fr&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;grid_rows_grid_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;fr&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;grid_auto_flow&quot;:&quot;row&quot;,&quot;grid_auto_flow_tablet&quot;:&quot;row&quot;,&quot;grid_auto_flow_mobile&quot;:&quot;row&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-846a0f1 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"846a0f1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 25-10-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Some of South Africa\u2019s most valued San (Bushman) rock art is found in the Free State.<\/p><p align=\"justify\"><strong>Caledon River Nature Reserve<\/strong><\/p><p align=\"justify\">A superbly preserved site with Bushman rock paintings of eland, cattle, hippo, a huge snake, eland and human figures is located in the reserve. The two panels of the site represent \u2018traditional\u2019 and \u2018contact\u2019 motifs\u2019 that show how the Bushmen coped with change in the Caledon River Valley.<\/p><p><strong>Hoekfontein<\/strong><\/p><p align=\"justify\">Hoekfontein is located between Clocolan and Ficksburg. There are 3 Bushman rock painting sites at Hoekfontein. Notable is a panel of 14 human figures dancing. 6 of these figures are infibulated \u2013 an artistic convention where a bar was drawn across the penis to show the link between hunter and prey. The site also has two very rare \u2018Palettes\u2019 that Bushman used to rub to gain supernatural potency. There are also 7 steenbok and an eland depicted. Near the paintings is a Late Iron Age refuge site consisting of 14 stone walled enclosures that dates to Mfecane times between 1790 AD\u20131840 AD.<\/p><p><strong>Kiara<\/strong><\/p><p align=\"justify\">A small rock shelter with 47 Bushman rock paintings including eland, rhebuck and human figures is located at Kiara (between Clarens and Golden Gate National Park). This site is truly unique in that it has South Africa\u2019s only unequivocal example of a dassie or rock hyrax (Procaviacapensis).<\/p><p><strong>Modderpoort<\/strong><\/p><p align=\"justify\">Bushman rock paintings of birds, a cattle raid, eland and human figures can be found at Modderpoor, located between Ladybrand and Clocolan.<\/p><p><strong>Moolmanshoek<\/strong><\/p><p align=\"justify\">Moolmanshoek is near Rosendal in the Eastern Free State. It is home to a large painted cave with an unusual 3 m deep tunnel at the northern end and a spectacular view.\u00a0<\/p><p align=\"justify\">\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9b7713e elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9b7713e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There are 47 Bushman rock paintings. These include 2 felines, eland, a shaman transforming into her\/his source of animal potency, 7 women with weighted digging sticks and some enigmatic parallel red lines.<\/p><p><strong>National Museum, Bloemfontein<\/strong><\/p><p align=\"justify\">Facilities include displays, a shop and a large rock art display within the museum, on Charles Street and at Oliewenhuis Art Museum. See the Bushman diorama, hallucinatory rain-animals and coverage of the Archaeology of South Africa\u2019s central interior. The Rock Art Department also maintains a display series in its offices in Elizabeth Street.<\/p><p align=\"justify\"><strong>QwaQwa National Park<\/strong><\/p><p align=\"justify\">The QwaQwa National Park is the location of a unique Bushman rock painting of two crabs as well aa rare painted animal spoor and quivers. Beautiful shaded eland and human figures. The whole cliff line is one big site with 3 \u2018pulses\u2019 at which paintings occur.<\/p><p align=\"justify\"><strong>Schaapplaats<\/strong><\/p><p align=\"justify\">Located near Clarens (Eastern Free State), the site is home to a large painted cave with 35 Bushman rock paintings. These include 8 paintings of therianthropes or part-human, part-animal beings that represent Bushman shamans utilising the potency of certain powerful animals whilst in an altered state of consciousness. There are also paintings of eland and a rhebuck hunt. Fossil footprintscan be found at the site.<\/p><p align=\"justify\"><strong>Slypsteenberg<\/strong><\/p><p align=\"justify\">A large Bushman\/San engraving site with about 80 images including baboon, eland, \u2018goats\u2019, human figures, a rain-animal and some large quadrupeds is located at the site.\u00a0<\/p><p align=\"justify\">\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1550d62 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-mobile__width-initial exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1550d62\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p align=\"justify\">The site is also used for mining \u2013 people looking for a legendary missionary treasure. Slypsteenberg is located within the city limits of Bloemfontein.<\/p><p align=\"justify\"><strong>Sterkstroom<\/strong><\/p><p align=\"justify\">The site houses a spectacular 18 m long wall of Bushman rock paintings. Baboon, eland, elephant, hartebeest, monsters, spirit world beings and much more are depicted, including the famous rain-animal of the Bushman chief Baartman. Look for the smallest known painting of a buck in South Africa as well as at the Khoe geometric motifs at the far end of the shelter. Sterkstroom is located between Rouxville and Aliwal North.<\/p><p><strong>Tandjesberg<\/strong><\/p><p align=\"justify\">Tandjiesberg is one of South Africa\u2019s 12 Rock Art National Monuments. This is a small, spectacular shelter with over 500 Bushman rock paintings. See bees, birds, cattle, exotic elephant, a frenetic medicine dance, animated human figures, rain-animals and the enigmatic \u2018weird white\u2019 tradition. Archaeological excavations establish that Bushmen lived here for at least 1 000 years. Located between Ladybrand and Clocolan, it is an important pilgrimage site among the impressive \u2018teeth\u2019 of sandstone.<\/p><p align=\"justify\"><strong>Spitskop<\/strong><\/p><p align=\"justify\">The Spitskop site complex consists of three San or \u2018Bushman\u2019 as well as Khoe or \u2018Khoi\u2019 rock-engraving sites located on adjacent farms. These sites are all within sight of the 1580 m high sandstone mountain known as Spitskop. There are images of eland \u2013 one is 1.35 m long \u2013 geometric forms, human figures, ostrich and also the remains of a mysterious historic settlement. Tragically, the last gathering and hunting San was shot 15 km from the farm in the 1860s.Spitskop is located 12 km west of Verkeerdevlei.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-324e9f2 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"324e9f2\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;content_width&quot;:&quot;full&quot;,&quot;container_type&quot;:&quot;flex&quot;}\" data-core-v316-plus=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e66232 exad-sticky-section-no exad-glass-effect-no elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"2e66232\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>San Rock Art in the Free State Some of South Africa\u2019s most valued San (Bushman) rock art is found in the Free State. Caledon River&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6434","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fsonline.fs.gov.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6434"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fsonline.fs.gov.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fsonline.fs.gov.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fsonline.fs.gov.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fsonline.fs.gov.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6434"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.fsonline.fs.gov.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6434\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9767,"href":"https:\/\/www.fsonline.fs.gov.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6434\/revisions\/9767"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fsonline.fs.gov.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}