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Paula Cave Bushman Paintings
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 The Paula Cave
National Monument
on 1 March 1951 |
Eastern Gate to Erongo Mountain
Nature Conservancy |
Rugged landscape on the farm |
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The Paula Cave: is
situated in the area of massive granite out-crops known as the Klippdachs (rock rabbits) that lay on the eastern edge of the rugged
and grandiose Erongo Mountain Nature Conservancy. Should you intend
making a visit to the cave you must first contact the Erongo
Wilderness Lodge as the site lays within their concession area, plus
for practical purposes, the Paula Cave can only be visited by means of a guided 4x4 tour.
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Not the hair-style |
The rocky face |
The Paula cave |
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The Paula Cave: offered a place
of shelter for the early Bushmen, plus a panoramic view of the
surrounding area. It is probable that the site held an amount
spiritual significance; a place where ritual dances were performed;
and a place where records of such events were depicted.
The Cave was formed from the granite
by what is referred to as being Tafoni Weathering which usually
takes place on the shaded side of rock formations. The Paula Cave
faces in a northerly direction. However, the site being north of the Tropic of Capricorn
does experience shade during the early months of the rainy season -
December and January. It was during these 'wet' periods that this
particular area of rock began to disintegrate. Further erosion was
caused by wind blown sands. You can clearly see the water stain
pattern over and above the entrance to the cave.
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Antelope |
Dancing men ? |
Antelope and men |
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The Rock Painting
style and coloration at the Paula Cave could be compared to that
which can be seen in several areas of the Erongo and the Brandberg.
In the above mural we see a row of 6 men apparently holding hands
and unarmed. There are several animals, and the lower paintings are
faded and open to speculations as to what they represent.
The below left section mural people are thought to
be performing the 'Elephant Dance' from the clothing worn for the
ritual. The 3rd figure from the left appears to be a pregnant woman.
As can be seen much of the painting has suffered damage of time,
weather etc.
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man |
Elephant dance |
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The renowned French
archeologist and expert on rock paintings Abbe Henri Breuil visited
the Paula cave during his 1950 expedition to the study the Rock
Paintings of the Erongo and commented on the Paula Cave paintings:
"The stone wall to the
left of the cave is vertical and rather concave. Behind the
paintings of some large, red-haired humans with relatively long
bodies, several animals appear, amongst them elephant and
rhinoceros. Further behind them is a group of black men with arrows.
These (paintings) are younger and visible only when moistened. On
the left side above and further back of the cave is a row of small
animal headed and very mobile people in red doing a kind of
mantis-dance."
There are considerable areas of the murals that are subjected
to direct sun-light and weather elements which bares testimony
to the ancient Busmen's knowledge and techniques for mixing
their paint materials.
Acknowledgements and further reading:
G1, R3, P1 my thanks to the Erongo Wilderness Lodge for their
kind assistance.
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Other Area Attractions
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►
Bulls Party
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Philipp's Cave
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Spitzkoppe ►
Omaruru
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