The Western Cape's already rich rock art heritage has been further enhanced with the discovery of two new sites in the Cederberg depicting Khoisan "rain-making" imagery.
One of them, dubbed the "rain beast" site, contains images of two mythological creatures, each containing features of several different animal species. Also depicted is a large group of men-like figures - some with animal features - who appear to be transforming themselves, possibly during the trance-like state associated with rain-making or rain-welcoming ceremonies.
The archaeologist who found them, Siyakha Mguni, is particularly intrigued because these paintings are of a style usually associated with rock art in the Drakensberg. These are the first examples of their kind in the Cederberg that he's aware of.
Mguni made the discoveries on the 7 000ha Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve in the northern Cederberg where he was appointed resident archaeologist in October 2005.
During the past 15 months, he has fully documented and assessed 110 rock art sites on the property, and reckons that he's only covered about 65 percent of the area so far.
"I've been walking systematically from north to south, but there are deep kloofs in-between and particularly in the winter months when the vegetation is much thicker, it's sometimes very difficult to see and to get to rock overhangs which are likely to contain paintings," he says.
"I personally believe there could be as many as 200 sites here, based on what I think are the densities."
Zimbabwean-born Mguni did his undergraduate training in Harare followed by an Honours degree in archaeology from UCT and a Masters from Wits University. He is currently registered for a PhD at UCT.
He came across the "rain beast" paintings on the cliff wall of a large exposed site unexpectedly in 2006 during one of his searches.
"I came in from the one side of this overhang where there was nothing, so I really wasn't expecting anything. And then suddenly I saw these figures - wow! It was great!" he recalls.
There are quite a few rock art sites in the Drakensberg that contain known rain-making images of hybrid beasts, and the two beast images at the news Cederberg site show distinct similarities of style with these, says Mguni.
The group sequence is "very strange", with nine figures - there may be eleven, but it's difficult to tell because of fading - changing from one form into another, possibly taking an antelope form, he adds.
"There are also some strange implements and some of the legs have reverse articulation. The group appears to be falling towards the point at which they transform into something else."
The overhang, which shows no signs of domesticity, may have been a site where Bushman "rain-makers" gathered to call or welcome rain.
Fred Stow, lodge manager at the reserve, said they were "very excited" by the new find.
"It brings to fruition our long-term commitment to rock art conservation and and our decision to invest in appointing a resident archaeologist at Bushmans Kloof. We're indeed fortunate to have someone of Siyahka's calibre on our team."