A PURPORTED PLEISTOCENE SAND SCULPTURE FROM SOUTH AFRICA

Charles W. Helm; Andrew Carr; Hayley Cawthra; Paul D. Cowley; Jan De Vynck; Pieter-Jan Gräbe; Renée Rust; Willo Stear; Alan Whitfield

doi:10.56801/rar.v41i1.272

Rock Art Research

Vol. 41 No. 1 (2024)
DOI : https://doi.org/10.56801/rar.v41i1.272
Published : Jan 29, 2024

A PURPORTED PLEISTOCENE SAND SCULPTURE FROM SOUTH AFRICA

Charles W. Helm ⁽¹⁾, Andrew Carr ⁽²⁾, Hayley Cawthra ⁽³⁾, Paul D. Cowley ⁽⁴⁾, Jan De Vynck ⁽⁵⁾, Pieter-Jan Gräbe ⁽⁶⁾, Renée Rust ⁽⁷⁾, Willo Stear ⁽⁸⁾, Alan Whitfield ⁽⁹⁾

(1) African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa

(2) School of Geography, Geology and the Environment, University of Leicester, United Kingdom

(3) African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa

(4) South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), South Africa

(5) African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa

(6) African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa

(7) African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa

(8) African Centre for Coastal Palaeoscience, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa

(9) South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB), South Africa

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Abstract

A purported cemented sand sculpture found in Pleistocene aeolianite deposits on the Cape south coast of South Africa resembles a stingray (minus a tail) in outline. Symmetry is evident in the rock’s shape and the pattern of grooves on its surface. It is postulated that it may be a three-dimensional example of representational art of another species. Optically stimulated luminescence studies of rocks in the vicinity indicate that it dates to the Middle Stone Age, most probably during Marine Isotope Stage 5 (when high sea levels imply a nearby coastline). The correspondence in shape between the purported sand sculpture and the blue stingray (Dasyatis chrysonota) suggests that it may have been traced from a fresh specimen. Tracings on sand are postulated as a possible ‘stepping stone’ between abstract early palaeoart and representational rock art. Features of the rock suggest that the creation of a stingray sand sculpture may conceivably have been followed by symbolically wounding it and amputating its lethal end. Identification of further ammoglyphs will be important in refining the analysis of this newly identified form of early palaeoart.