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Rooisand, 4th of May 2005: More
rock paintings of the San (Bushmen) are discovered at
Rooisand.
Previously unknown rock paintings have been discovered by
chance by two of our guests (Hasso from Swakopmund and Klaus from Berlin)
during a climbing tour.
So far only 3 rock paintings were known to exist
on the grounds of farm Rooisand, and they are not particularly well preserved.
Some of the newly discovered paintings, left by Namibia's original inhabitants,
the San, are very well reserved and clear. |
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According to first
expert assessments the scene on the right in the picture above is a hunter
fighting with a lion. The figure on the left is clearly a woman who apparently
tries to get away the fight. Below are enlargements of both parts of the
painting.
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The Rooisand team has come up with names for this extraordinary rock
painting. The part on the left is Rooisand's "Lady in
Red" and ... |
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... on the right the "Brave
Hunter".
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The picture on the right shows a Kudu bull, also very well preserved.
Unfortunately the rock surface has chipped off where the legs of the Kudu were
painted. According to an expert on Namibian rock art this is one of the most
beautiful Kudu paintings in the country. The horn of the Kudu is not painted,
but is a natural quartz vein in the rock which was integrated into the
picture.
If the chipped-off pieces can still be found below the
paintings, experts will be able to determine the age of the paintings without
interfering with them. The first rough estimates range from about 1000 to 3000
years. |
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Remnants of charcoal, bits of beads from ostrich eggshells, potsherds
as well as extracted and shaped pieces of rock crystal were found below the
rock face straightaway. Several large caves in the vicinity of the rock
paintings suggest that people have lived here for quite some
time.
As soon as the rock
paintings have been thoroughly examined by experts, their immediate
surroundings will be protected. Rooisand's visitors and guests will
nevertheless be able to view them unrestricted - in the company of a guide.
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Rooisand Observatory, our farm's very own observatory, was finally
completed in spring 2005. If you would like to do some stargazing or just take
a closer look at the moon, our technical staff will be glad to assist
you. |
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| The Rooisand dome |
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The Rooisand telescope |
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If you are an amateur astronomer you are welcome to
rent the entire observatory. A well-appointed holiday chalet, about 2.5 km away
from the main farmhouse area, is part of the observatory. For more information
on the telescopes, other equipment and the design see our observatory
website. |
« Observatory +
chalet |
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