A Preliminary Assessment of the Rock Art of Jahunda, Southern Zimbabwe

Abstract

This paper is a preliminary assessment of the distribution and nature of rock art sites that were recorded during archaeological surveys conducted in Jahunda, south of Gwanda town. The surveys were conducted as part of the African Archaeology Network research programme in the Shashi-Limpopo basin that is seeking to understand the antiquity of humanity and human interactions in the broader Shashi- Limpopo landscape. The rock art of Jahunda showcases a variety of themes and techniques typical of hunter-gatherer art in most parts of Zimbabwe. However, the rock art shows an apparent emphasis on the depiction of the giraffe and kudu. The rock art is characterized by human and animal figures as well as prints in various associations and styles of execution. The continued used of rock art in human spirituality that began with foragers, with probable associations with then farmers until recent times is suggestive of a complex level of interaction among prehistoric communities.