Rock Art Research

Vol. 40 No. 1 (2023)
Published : May 8, 2023

ICHNOLOGY IN ROCK ART SCIENCE: EXAMPLES FROM SOUTHERN AFRICA

Charles W. Helm (1), Willo Stear (2), Hayley C. Cawthra (3), Jan C. De Vynck (4), Renee Rust (5)

(1) African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
(2) African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
(3) African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
(4) African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa
(5) School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Abstract

Rock art has at times been classified within an ichnological framework, and ichnology can potentially make a significant contribution to rock art science. Examples from southern Africa are provided to illuminate the interface between ichnology and rock art research. The juxtaposition of petroglyphs of a possible freshwater turtle and a putative reptile swim trace may represent acute ichnological perspicacity and would form the oldest known recognition of this type of trace in Africa. Patterns evident in the natural world may resemble entoptic patterns — these phenomena are not mutually exclusive as explanations for some rock art images.