The southern African San and their rock art

Abstract

San rock art, long believed to be little more than primitive stick figures, is now recognized as one of the world's most striking artistic traditions. The images should be seen in terms of the three-tiered San cosmology. People with special powers, shamans, were able to visit spirit realms and to return with information about supernatural things. They painted their visions on the walls of rock shelters. Today a San image is in the centre of the national coat of arms.