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| Viewing: San Rock Art Conservation Project |
Package ID: 1706 |
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| San Rock Art Conservation Project |
Work with our archaeological and local community team to digitally document the rock art of the Drakensberg Mountains and implement a range of conservation measures.
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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.
Project Location:
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.
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:
1. 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.
2. Assist with erosion gully rehabilitation works
3. Development of eco-tourism initiatives in the area such as a hiking way and hiking overnight huts.
4. General management tasks as decided by the management team.
This is a camping/hiking project and volunteers are required to supply their own tents, sleeping mats and sleeping bags. You need to have a fair fitness level and previous hiking experience is an added benefit.
Your project fee includes camping costs and food. You will be based at one of the two community visitor centres in the area you are working in. You will spend time out in the mountains with either the archaeological team or the local community building teams.
Project Cost Includes:
Airport transfers to and from Durban International Airport
Orientation on arrival
All accommodation during your stay (camping)
Full support and assistance from your coordinator throughout your time in South Africa
Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.
Project Cost Excludes:
All flights
Comprehensive travel insurance
Any extra nights of accommodation before or after the agreed project start or end dates
All items of a personal nature, such as curios, gifts, clothing.
Email/Internet (very limited to no opportunity during the project) and telephone calls
Soft drinks, beer, wines and spirits
Any excursions over and above your planned itinerary in South Africa
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