uncertain spring officially known jumping site ancient rock north western consists spring valley flanked slopes sandstone table mountain receives little rainfall wide range temperatures site inhabited years hunter later ethnic groups place worship site conduct rituals process rituals items rock carvings created rock paintings displaying largest concentrations rock africa approved history valley inhabited stone age hunter stone age culture group approximately years ago probably paintings years ago ethnic group related occupied valley known jumping produced rock art clearly distinguished older area europeans world war severe drought caused white speaking farmers farm later government white settlers left discovered white lady rock painting reported presence rock area thorough investigation conducted studied feasibility farming rediscovered spring struggled extract water sustain family herd slowly obsessed doubts capacity spring speaking friend began calling bought land registered farm gave commonly translated doubtful spring accurate translation word questionable uncertain scientific investigation rock art started investigation described rock sandstone today estimated site contains individual depictions location description situated valley formation southern area known rocks containing art work situated valley flanked slopes sandstone table mountain underground layer spring dry area refers spring valley containing spring context traveling tourism greater area containing nearby tourist attractions rock crater covers area rock area transitional zone semi desert receives annual rainfall temperatures vary winter month july summer month november lies south major road connected district road country lodge features gravel lodge camp site visitor centre tourist facilities managed joint venture lodge owners rock art area consists fourteen smaller sites introduced initial site survey describe location artworks artworks sandstone rocks covered called desert hard appears brown dark grey effected exposing lighter rock underneath created course thousands years oldest old years creation new works probably ended arrival pastoral tribes different types distinguished iconic imagery images animals humans fantasy creatures geometric rock art like circles rows dots everyday use grinding board games stones additionally site contains rock paintings different locations depictions humans painted red rock shelters similar occurrence rock paintings rock rare hunter iconic probably paintings carvings represent animals elephants depictions human animal figures prominently lion man lion extremely long rectangular tail ending depict transformation humans animals transformation depiction animals tracks likely created rituals simplistic perception hunter attempts acquire food thought animals certainly occurred area like sea lion possibly indicate hunter contact coast away modern archaeological survey led questions descriptions initial investigation describes easily fauna strange animals rough work animals possibly occur produced geometric imagery probably depicting groups creators area served grinding game boards stones bear marks use stones unusual sounds hit archaeological site subdivided smaller sites described objects site include variety stone tools type shape tools indicate use rock prevalence wood leather working artwork fragments found places items daily use bone fragments excavated pottery fragments pottery originated early farmers stone age culture produced rock art archaeological value site compare importance rock art collection findings support origin food remains site proved bones small rock large species depicted site protection recognition area declared south west african administration despite early recognition site left entire area declared nature reserve result damaged removed additionally visitors left graffiti sandstone legislation site protected section approved largest concentrations rock africa organisation recognised coherent extensive high quality record ritual practices relating hunter gather communities criterion iii links ritual economic practices apparent sacred association land adjacent according criterion cultural selection criteria listed achieve having site listed government defined zone km2 protect visual setting km2 core site grazing restricted establishment tourism facilities prohibited regarded generally intact country lodge place ceremonies rock site zone concern stated severely compromised integrity rock area hiking trail allowed visitors access seen running close rock art sites site management improved applying status particularly regards visitor management hiking longer allowed literature rock art africa retrieved die rock art south west africa volume north western south west africa german cologne isbn peter german frankfurt africa isbn
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