South African Archaeological Society

Archäeologie. I. Einleitung. Historische Überblick by Andreas RumpfThe South African Archaeological Bulletin, Vol. 8, No. 30 (Jun., 1953), p. 50Published by: South African Archaeological SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3887470 .

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of the Rose Cottage excavations) addressed the meeting, and expressed appreciation of the interest that the Society took in the unique assets of Lady- brand and its vicinity.

On Monday morning a party led by Dr. Tobias went into Basutoland to visit Ha Rhotso, a vast rock- painting site near Matellas. The truck in which it was travelling developed serious engine trouble before reaching its destination, and it is pleasant to be able to record here the wonderful hospitality and readiness to help with which the local population, both official and private, greeted the stranded archaeologists. Transport was soon found for those who had to return to Johannesburg, while the Public Works Department supplied and fitted a new crankshaft to the lorry. This party returned later in the week.

The majority of the party also visited the shelter at Orange Springs, after which, fortified by an excellent morning tea (fig. 3) supplied by the owners of the farm, Mr. and Mrs. de Bruin, members dispersed on their homeward journey. (See cover.)

Acknowledgements

The excursion was made possible only by the co- operation of Mr. L. du Preez and the various farm owners who not only welcomed members most cor- dially but in every case entertained them to tea, no mean task in the case of so large a party. We are deeply grateful to Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Viljoen of L'Esperance, Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Liquori of Tripoli- tania and Tandjiesberg, Mr. D. Ditrani and Mrs. Paul Loewenstein of Ladybrand, and Mr. and Mrs. P. J. de Bruin of Orange Springs. The Town Council kindly permitted a party of students to camp on the town lands.

B.D.M.

Songs and the Cyclist Mr. A. Stamelman has sent us an amusing letter

from Miss L. Marriott, of the Witwatersrand Centre, who is cycling through darkest (and thorniest) Africa. We gratefully publish the bulk of it.

'It began with my going off on a side-road-very bad-to try to find out about the Ndanga rock- paintings. I got no information, and on my return to the road the back tyre (long overdue for renewal) gave up the ghost with a loud "pang". It could really hardly have gone at a better moment, for the farmer who gave me a lift knew the country.... He told me of some paintings, the mission where I could get a guide and the guest house near it.

'Everything went according to plan, and next morning saw me puffing and blowing behind a girl of 13 and her brother of 12, who walked the same pace up and down hill. We went through lovely country, south of the district known as Sosera, between Fort Victoria and Birchenough Bridge. After about six miles we co-opted another small boy; shortly after, two more. They sometimes all took council together, but always agreed and we went practically direct to the cave, which was marked by trees and whose wall was the shape of a quarter sphere.

'The first animal which took my eye was a pink elephant with lovely pale oyster ears, and while I was rhapsodizing over this, the five children lined up and sang little songs. Back at the mission the secretary told me that the Natives say the "paintings are not there till the songs are sung".

'I took a time-exposure with far more success than I dared to hope. But do you think I can find that pink elephant? Not with a magnifying glass. The obvious solution is that the pink elephant belongs to the species Elephas pincas-so well known to the dipsomaniac.... Of course I am sure I saw other paintings before the songs, but I can't prove it!'

Mauny, R. Les Recherches archeologiques en A.O.F., particulierement de 1938-52. Le Con- gres panafricain de Prehistoire d'Alger. Bull. d'Ifan., XV 2, pp. 859-70.

These two short notes cover research (including an excellent bibliography) in French West Africa from about the beginning of the war, and a report on the work done at the Algiers Congress on Pan-African Prehistory. Rumpf, Andreas. Archaeologie. L Einleitung.

Historische (berblick. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, 1953 (DM. 2.40).

An excellent popular introduction to the tradition of classical archaeology in German. It is illustrated by a dozen plates and covers ancient times, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Baroque period and the 'Georgian' revival as it affected Germany. Finally Prof. Dr. Rumpf touches upon the most recent revival of classicism.

Summers, Roger. Rhodesian Ruins, Occ. Pap. Nat. Mus. S. Rhod., No. 18, 1953.

This is essentially a catalogue of the various ruins, not only in Rhodesia itself, but in the neighbouring territories of the Transvaal and Portuguese East Africa. It includes a very clear map, defining the area of the Inyanga complex and showing the reported positions of ruins not yet investigated. A very valuable piece of basic work is achieved, listing over three hundred sites, of which two hundred and seventy are in Southern Rhodesia, six in Portuguese territory, and thirty-seven in the Union. The material from the Heilbron district (probably not a part of the same complex) is not apparently included. Among major references not cited is the Bibliography of Zimbabwe (Jagger Library, University of Cape Town) produced some three years ago.

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