Twyfelfontein Site Report
by Sven Ouzman

Site 15 – Twyfelfontein Main Site Complex
Beim Grossen Malereiblock - Outlier
Site I on Scherz’s Map (21.1 in Figure 14)
S 20° 35’ 58’’ / E 14° 22’ 13”

Site Description

About 300m south-west of the painted rock overhang and on a lower 600m contour there is a cluster of large rock blocks just off the slope of the valley side and on the valley floor with a vast flat expanse in front of it. The jumbled blocks make for a spacious rock shelter that has a tunnel through it. There is a very noticeable large and light-coloured rock overhand on the contour above this site.
 
Associated Archaeology

There are many stone tools of hornfels and quartzite on the floor of this site and all around it – it must have been a popular place to live. There is a lot of ostrich eggshell in both fragment and bead form. Recent stone seats have been brought in to take advantage of the breeze that blows through this tunnel-cave.
 
Description of Beim Grossen Malereiblock - Outlier Rock’s rock-art

On the outside of the overhang and at the entrance to the smallest part of the tunnel is a vertical rock face with a 750mm x 700mm engraved cluster comprising 11 feline spoor, 2 antelope spoor and 31 cupules (Figure 95). The cupules measure between 16mm – 35mm in diameter and between 4mm – 11mm deep. The spoor are all engraved in pecked-infill and vary from 55mm x 40mm in size to 80mm x 75mm. Two of the feline spoor are shown with claws extended. On the outer face of the rock block there are 3 faded red human figures in red paint representing a Bushman rock painting episode.
 
Threat(s) to site: The engraved imagery at this site is in a very good condition thanks to a stable block of rock and protected location. Also, few visitors come this far. The rock paintings are more exposed and have suffered from rain, sun, wind and sand damage


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