San Rock Art Mapping Project

  South Africa

Rural Areas

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 3-6 months, 7-12 months, 1-2 years and over 2 years
Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks

Description: The Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park (UDP) administered by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (EKZNW) has recently been declared a World Heritage Site (UDP-WHS) and is regarded as one of the finest resources internationally for rock art. KwaZulu-Natal is also the most densely populated and one of the most impoverished provinces in Southern Africa. There are an estimated 40,000 paintings at some 550 sites in the Drakensberg, dating back thousands of years. The history is well documented but inaccessible to many. Sensitive heritage material needs to be protected, but first documented to ensure a record remains intact. The Mnweni Valley area and the neighboring valleys of Okhombe, Busingatha and Obonjaneni, which stretch to the summit of the Drakensberg, are customary tenure lands. These areas are the only sections of the KZN Drakensberg which do not fall within the UDP-WHS, but they are, nonetheless, an integral component of the Drakensberg mountains and share common boundaries with the UDP-WHS. These customary tenure lands contain an additional 120 rock art sites to those mentioned above but have suffered from historical neglect and have not had the massive institutional support from which the UDP has benefited.

The project is located in the northern Drakensberg between Royal Natal National Park in the north and Cathedral Peak Conservation Area in the south. The Mnweni Triangle area falls within the AmaNgwane Traditonal Authority area while the neighbouring Busingatha, Okhombe and Obonjaneni areas fall within the AmaZizi Traditional Authority. Both Traditional Authority areas fall under the jurisdiction of the Ingonyama Trust. The Mnweni - AmaZizi and the Busingatha, Okhombe, Tugela and associated valleys (Obonjaneni) are located in the uKhahlamba Magisterial District, between Cathedral Peak and the Royal Natal National Park section of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg World Heritage Site (WHS). The Mnweni, Busingatha and Tugela valleys are particularly large and penetrate deep into the mountains, right up to the Lesotho border. These mountain areas are of customary land tenure and are regarded as one of the most important high water catchments of the Drakensberg. At present the AmaNgwane and AmaZizi areas have been excluded from the WHS on account of their lack of official management structure. This is despite their obvious wealth of cultural and natural resources, biodiversity on a par with that of the UDP, not to mention the critical geographical location of this vast mountain region. Historical neglect has made the area inaccessible for many decades but recent work with the local communities needs to be built on and form a vital component of this project.

There are still a variety of institutions and organizations that hold and safeguard hard copy elements of this national treasure and heritage. There have been numerous methods of doing so over the ages such as hand written recording, photographs, slides and life size tracings. One of the problems that such a collection poses is that it is very difficult to give access to the general public. Another threat is that of destruction of the collection. The material is bulky and difficult to store and expensive protection methods are needed to safeguard these collections. Should any one of these collections be destroyed for any reason it would be a major blow to our heritage.

As technology moves forwards other more appropriate methods of capturing, storing and presenting this valuable data is being presented to us. The development of a vastly expanded digital database and a web based GIS require that all known sites (some not visited since the 1970's) be re-documented and assessed including such methodologies as digital photography, 360° digital video, accurate GPS mapping of site locations and management planning. The Natal Museum holds the new database and the web based GIS will reside at the Natal Museum when complete for this area.

Project Objectives

The Project's four key objectives are, namely:

1. To digitally document, archive and map all the rock art sites within the following mountain areas of the AmaNgwane and AmaZizi Traditional Authority areas: Mabhulesini, Manzana, Khokwane (the "Mnweni Triangle") and Obonjaneni, Busingatha and Okhombe.

2. To develop and populate a web based Geographical Information System (GIS) of all the rock art and archaeological sites in the Mnweni Valley and adjacent areas.

3. To employ local community members already trained in rock art custodianship and guiding to assist the professional field team.

4. On the request of local schools and Community Rock Art Monitoring Groups to implement a rock art appreciation programme for the learners of the local communities as a key to long term survival of the rock art in the area.

Your Role as a Volunteer

You will join our field archaeological team and assist them with the documentation of the existing rock art as well as explore for new, previously unrecorded, rock art and archaeological sites. Once you have gained an understanding and appreciation of the rock art you will conduct other valuable conservation work in the area such as:

* Building of shepherds huts with the local community so that mountain shepherds no longer have to use shelters containing rock art, thus preserving the rock art from major human and animal impact.
* Assist with erosion gully rehabilitation works
* Development of eco-tourism initiatives in the area such as a hiking way and hiking overnight huts.
* General management tasks as decided by the management team.

Highlights: Highlights are working on a national project of heritage in the Drakensberg Mountains of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Qualifications: Volunteers on this project need to be physically fit and have experience in multi-day hiking/trekking expeditions.

Cost in US$: 1900 per month

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Our volunteers need to be addaptable and open minded and be able to work within a team.

Age Range: 17 - 60

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 3 or more

Application Process Involves:

• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Exit DebriefingAbroad

African Conservation Trust's Mission Statement: The African Conservation Trust is a registered South African Non Profit Organisation (NPO 030-243) and Public Benefit Organisation (PBO 930014758). The mission of the Trust is to provide a means for conservation projects to become self funding through active participation by the public. This gives ordinary people a chance to make a positive and real contribution to environmental, cultural and heritage conservation by funding and participating as volunteers.

Year Founded: 2000