Violence and rock paintings in the precolonial history of the Cape, South Africa Professor John Parkington, University of Cape Town

Event details

Department of Archaeology Lecture

Undoubtedly the most significant set of historical events in southernmost Africa prior to the appearance of European colonists was the disruption of hunter gatherer lives by the spread of pastoralism and farming some 2000 years ago. Subsequent relations between hunters, herders and farmers were complex and often, but not always, included tensions and conflict. In the archaeological record of the Western Cape region, these interactions may be reflected in both painted imagery and in direct skeletal evidence of violence. Here John presents two examples of apparent conflict that may refer to the difficult juxtaposition of two quite distinct value systems: the sharing ethic of hunters, manifesting as custodianship, and the accumulative ethic of herders, an early form of capitalism.

The talk will be followed by a drinks reception. 

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons