South Africa-Logan Shannon

Pre Classical Age (3500-800  B.C.E)

This painting of a deer is found in the caves of Northern South Africa. Although there is no name for the painting, they were created by Bushmen artists in South Africa during the times of 30,000 B.C.E and 800 B.C.E. This specific painting is about a deer but there are many other paintings that correlates animals to meanings. The specific purpose of this painting is to show somebody being reborn into a buck in the spiritual world. Specifically, this painting of a buck depicts that the artists and civilians during the pre-classical era of South Africa believed that when one died, they would be reborn into something depending on how they acted and behaved while living in their human bodies.
Skelton, Dominic. "The incredible history of Bushman rock art in Southern Africa revealed." Times LIVE. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.

Found in the Blombos Cave in South Africa is a 100,000 year old Incised Ochre. Since this was marked back 100,000 years ago, this applies to Africa's stone age which in context relates to the pre-classical age. Scientists are unsure what these findings meant to ancient South African people but many guests have accumulated to the idea that the patterns designed in the shell were used as models for pigments designs applied to animal skin. Even though we are not 100 percent sure what these findings represent, we can point at the fact that these scribbles and dashes in the ochre can be a message, first signs of art, or just scribbling. These findings serve as an important time in South African culture because never has anybody seen messages written in objects as far as 100,000 years ago and can argue that South African artists and tribes were ahead of their time. Since these findings are still uncertain in their meaning, they are still in scientists hands being worked on in laboratories. 
"100,000 Year-Old Incised Ochre Found At Blombos Cave." Anthropology.net. N.p., 13 June 2009. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.

Once again found in the Blombos Cave of South Africa were arguably the most important pieces of architecture discovered. These findings were tools made from bones during 25-70 Ka(Middle Stone Age). The creators of the artifact were modern South African's. The purpose of the artifact was that he bones were used for cooking and digging and was a really important find because rarely if ever, were bones found in the Stone Age of Africa. It tells us the people of South Africa during this time created the first use of tools in the region and made blueprints for generations to come and develop better tools with better materials and uses. Archeologists were able to dig up 28 bone tools between 1992 and 2000. These bone tools can be found throughout many museums in ancient art museums in Africa.
Henshilwood, C. S., F. D'Errico, C. W. Marean, R. G. Milo, and R. Yates. "An early bone tool industry from the Middle Stone Age at Blombos Cave, South Africa: implications for the origins of modern human behaviour, symbolism and language." Journal of human evolution. U.S. National Library of Medicine, Dec. 2001. Web. 23 Mar. 2017 

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCES
Adams Calendar- Middle Stone Age

Above is an ancient structure built in the middle stone age in South Africa called Adams Calendar. They are ancient remains of temples from the middle stone age of South Africa. "The only ways to see these magnificent sculptures are in the air in an hour long trip"(Makamoti, July 17th, 2008). These tall sculptures can stand up to 5 meters high and goes on for miles and miles. Once there was a road that connected all the different temples and shows that the ancient South African's were no strangers to mobility and transportation. When originally built, they were used as a calendar to tell the months, dates, and years. "Over the years they began to erode and cover with soil,but are still a monument people travel to see"(Makamoti, July 17th, 2008). "It becomes evident that this was no accidental settlement but a gold mining industry. It shows that the ancient South Africans were advanced in agriculture"(Makomoti, July 17th, 2008). Many of these sculptures were aligned to specific geographic points including solstices and equinoxes. 
"Adam's Calender - A Rich and Diverse History of Humanity." Adam's Calender - A Rich and Diverse History of Humanity. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2017.

Ancient Gold Mines of South Africa 

"In my personal experience and research I have found at least 25 ancient mine shafts in gold-rich areas and been told about dozens more by farmers all over South Africa. Ancient mines covered by 30 metres of soil have been reported by at least 2 miners in the ‘30’s in the province of Limpopo and more than 75,000 mines have been reported by geological companies in Mpumalanga. It seems that gold mining has been going on here for a lot longer than most of us ever imagined"(Michael Tellinger). With gold mines like these, it is certain that the South African ancient people had some type of wealth and can be considered that gold meant power. These mines founded by geologists in the 1930's proves that South Africa had one of the biggest gold mining industries during its time in the middle stone age.Cassin, Camara. "100,000 Year Old Ruins of South Africa." Ancient Explorers. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2017.

                                                           Homo Naledi(3500-800BCE)

Founded in Johannesburg, another type of homo species was founded called the Homo Naledi. These creatures apparently walked on all fours like primates and were roaming around South Africa during the pre classical era. These findings were huge because it correlates to the idea that all humans evolved from monkeys and these creatures walked on all fours like them. These humans grew no more than 5 feet and their brain was smaller than an orange. These finds were found in the Dinaledi chamber and are still be viewed by scientists to this day. "We have a cave filled with individuals who are all cramped into a chamber and you ask yourself how did they get here"( Professor Paul Derks)

 Connor, Steve. "Homo naledi: New species of human discovered after ancient skeletons unearthed in South Africa." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 10 Sept. 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2017. <http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/new-species-of-human-discovered-by-scientists-after-ancient-skeletons-unearthed-in-south-africa-10494462.html>.

The Classical Age (800 BCE-500 CE)

The weapons shown above were used by the ancient Zulu tribe of southern Africa. All though there are no specific dates these weapons were used or found, it is stated the Zulu people often used these in battle during the classical age. These weapons tell us that the Zulu people in southern Africa were advanced in their weaponry and used swords, shields, and axes. You can find these ancient Zulu artifacts throughout museums in southern African museums.
"Shaka Zulu." Deadliest Warrior Wiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2017.

Depicted above is what people in all regions of Africa called Sangoma African Voodoo people. These people perfume rituals using black magic and witchcraft that can punish people or heal them. All though they are still around today you can date back the Voodoo people of South Africa all the way back to the classical age. These images and descriptions obviously tell people that Africa specifically southern Africa, was very into witchcraft and black magic. All though these people were outsiders centuries ago, they became a powerful group who people in African villages go to for help, revenge, and forgiveness. To this day, you may see some of these Voodoo artists dressed in elaborate clothing with face paint on.
Reporter, Daily Mail. "Is this what they mean by voodoo economics? The British banker who quit his job to become South African witch doctor." Daily Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 01 July 2011. Web. 01 May 2017.

Mailonline, James Dunn For. "Ritual dances, goat slaughtering and gin: Thousands gather for voodoo religious festival in tiny African country of Benin." Daily Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 11 Jan. 2016. Web. 01 May 2017.

These shown above where ostrich eggshell beads made by the ancient San people of South Africa during around 400 BCE. These were used as necklaces and shows that fashion and the idea of freezing nice were important to this Southern Africa tribe. These have also showed historians that the San people were also not just making weapons and armory but actually had a type of cultural as well. 
MailOnline, Eddie Wrenn for. "Research that could set humanity back 20,000 years: Ornaments and tools show that Modern Man emerged 44,000 years ago (much earlier than we thought)." Daily Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 30 July 2012. Web. 01 May 2017.

"Many people believe that the evolution of Africa has not reached the stage of writing, while it is they who have learned to other writing. 
This is because of this that we want to present samples of African writing and literature related ending with N'ko. This writing on which we dwell is the most powerful and most advanced current entries because of its phonetic and phonological characteristics. 
As Africa is the birthplace of writing, so the point of dissemination of the scriptures, we consider in this regard that the writing is not foreign to Africa. This is not a new reality on the African continent. That is why we will trace the evolution of writing from its origins up to today and also why the first specimens of writing disappeared without knowing a wide distribution .. 
We will explain and also to understand which direction our writing. 
In our understanding, the writing began in Africa. Consequently, humanity has known many types of writing to various spheres of influences. The longevity of a writing may be short. It depends on the composition and pedagogy of teaching, but no support. 
Writing means three things: 
· Express a conventional idea as hieroglyphics 
· To express its 
· Expressing the same time the sound and content. 
· Writing syllabic; 
· Writing vocalic and consonantal 
· Writing vowel, consonant and phonetic. 
· Thinking and sound. 
· Examples of each type of African writing. 
ONE: WRITING ECHANTION IDEOGRAMMIQUE 
A-THE hieroglyphics: 
The hieroglyphs are the prototypes of the first African writings, even global. Pharaonic Egypt was the center of this civilization was essentially black, hence the term (kemun) designating the color black not only in ancient Egyptian, but also present in Mandinka. 
This writing is a sign of the ideas the same way that the figures express the numbers. If we write a number, it expresses the number beyond even the syllabic or alphabetic pronunciations of consonants and vowels" (Dr Maba Badi)

N'ko yeta-menta ߡߍ߲ߕߊ߫ ߦߋߕߊ. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 May 2017.

                            The Post Classical Age(600-1450 CE)

The figure embodies the spirit of the African Renaissance. When European nations began their Renaissance, they turned to the classical age of Greece and Rome when art and architecture had reached its zenith. San rock art is one of the great archaeological wonders of the world, and it reflects the glories of the African past. This piece of art is located in a South African museum in Cape Town where it has been kept for 85 years since it's founding in 1917. "Our knowledge of South African San texts (especially the 12 000 pages of testimony collected by Dr Bleek), combined with the study of the rituals and beliefs of San people still living in the Kalahari, allows us to understand many of the paintings in the Linton panel. The panel shows people capturing a power the /Xam called !Gi. The San sought and used this power for the benefit of their community ,as it allowed for the healing of the sick and for the healing of divisions within society. San rock art was believed to be rich in this special power"(South African History Online.)
"South African History Online." Towards a peoples history. N.p., 23 Apr. 1908. Web. 25 Apr. 2017. <http://www.sahistory.org.za/>.

 Shown above is the cave drawings found in South Africa throughout created by the Bantu people who populated South Africa during the post classical time period. The images describe dancers at the bottom of the picture to show that during post classical times in South Africa, dance was common. It also shows women gathering for food which is important because typically it is men who do the hunting and gathering. There are also other pictures showing men and women dancing together in Harmony. 
"The Women’s Dance III: Southern Africa." Veleda. N.p., 05 Feb. 2012. Web. 23 Apr. 2017. 

 The picture above represents San Art rock paintings made by the Bushmen tribe of South Africa that are 10,000-15,000 years old. These painting can depict a lot of things ranging from humans to half animal half humans who are predicted as medicine men. A lot of times in these paintings, men are dancing which represents the healers in the community. You can find these rock paintings throughout western Cape Town but many are vandalized with garbage and graffitti. According to Dr Ben Smith, "genetic evidence suggests they are one of the oldest, if not the oldest, peoples in the world, going back to perhaps 60,000 years. They have genetic traces that no one else in the world has, that put them at the root of the human tree - we are related to them, but they are not as closely related to us. They have unique markers that we don’t have".
Foundation, Bradshaw. "The San Bushmen of South Africa." Bradshaw Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2017. 
 

 
The San Bushmen people of South Africa used to make posion laced arrows as a form of weaponary dating back to 650 CE. This type of weapon was very dangerous and lethal during its time used. Someone could find these throughout old Bushmen tribes located in South Africa and Zimbabwe but none are really carried in museums. There are still Bushmen in the African region who use poison arrows to hunt and fight. 
Foundation, Bradshaw. "The San Bushmen of South Africa." Bradshaw Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2017. 

 
A griot was a West African storyteller typically yet they have been reported found in Cape Town South Africa dating back to 800 CE. "A griot perpetuated the oral traditions of a family or village. He carries the cultural knowledge and identity of each people.The griot legacy stretches back for hundreds, and in some cases, thousands of years.
The griot is a chronicler of history – keeping track of the history and developments of his people over time" Many are also guardian of the knowledge of his people’s ancestry, or genealogy.

"AfricanStorytellers." The Griots, African Storytellers - Ancient Africa for Kids. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2017.

GRIOT/Storyteller. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2017.