Arguments and evidence in rock art research: an assessment of two geomythological cases

David Witelson — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Different evaluations of the evidence underlie contrasting interpretations of southern African rock art. Researchers often come from a range of disciplines and tend to think in terms of their own discipline. Departing from the anthropologically informed approach to southern African rock art, several palaeontologists propose that some southern African groups resemble Western palaeontologists in that they may have recognized fossils as traces of extinct animals, which they might have explained in ‘geomyths’ and reconstructed in rock art. An appraisal of two related cases is presented. In each case, an evaluation of the evidence finds that it does not support the argument. Geomythology is found to lack a convincing theory of how fossils become culturally meaningful within a given worldview. The insufficiency of the supporting myth and rock art evidence, and geomythology’s poor theoretical capacity to interpret socio-cultural human behaviours from myths and rock art, are grounds to reject the validity of the conclusions in both cases. Sufficient evidence and improvements to theory and method are needed before geomythology can contribute to southern African rock art studies.

The canine connection III: dogs and southern African farmers

Peter Mitchell — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Dogs have been part of southern African farming communities for well over a millennium. This paper reviews the archaeological evidence for when that association may have begun, raising the possibility that an initial introduction connected to the beginnings of trade along the East African coast may help explain the fact that the earliest secure dates for dogs in the region come from KwaZulu-Natal. Noting the potential role of infectious disease as a constraint on their expansion through tropical Africa and considering whether distinct breeds of indigenous dog can be identified, it then uses ethnographic, historical and archaeological evidence to explore two main themes: the roles played by dogs as hunting aids and guardians and their importance in the social and ideological realm, particularly as a means by which to offer subtle comment on relations between people in a socially tolerated manner. The paper ends by setting out a research agenda for developing a canine archaeology of southern African farming communities, emphasizing the importance of building a robust dataset of remains with identifications confirmed and dated using multiple proxies.

Southern African Humanities

Arguments and evidence in rock art research: an assessment of two geomythological cases

The canine connection III: dogs and southern African farmers