Rock Art Research Institute (RARI)
University of the Witwatersrand
Although the Rock Art Research Institute is best known for its research in South Africa, researchers have worked in many parts of southern, central and eastern Africa. In recent years, Dr Benjamin Smith has worked throughout Zambia and Malawi. Here we see Siyakha Mguni conducting his research into rock art of Matabeleland Province, Zimbabwe.
The Institute's publications on South African rock art have led to an increasing international demand for RARI expertise in conservation, interpretation, presentation and recording.
Here members of the Institute are recording Native American rock engravings in a shelter high above the Utah desert.
Recording rock art sites is a labour-intensive process. First, the sites are photographed then, where faded or threatened, they are traced. Tracings are brought back to the labs and redrawn by hand for archiving and publication. So far the Institute has fully recorded over 500 sites using this method.
As the original art deteriorates, due to a combination of natural weathering and human damage, this material will ultimately become the sole record of this priceless heritage. In addition to the tracings and photographs built up during 22 years of rock art research, the Institute has an extensive archive of historical copies of South African rock art.
Here we see one of Harald Pager's immaculate colour copies of the Ndedema Gorge. The Ndedema collection has been restored and is now on display in a custom built archive at the Institute thanks to generous sponsorship of Murray and Roberts Construction.
