www.gov.bw/tourism
This page is part of © GIRAFAMANIA website / Esta página é parte do sítio GIRAFAMANIA
Girafas na Arte Austral – Botsuana
Pinturas Rupestres de Manayana
Essas pinturas rupestres estão localizadas na área of several rock overhangs at the base of the Kolobeng Hill some 35 quilômetros a oeste de Gaborone, próxima a cidade de Manayana.
Artifacts dating back to the Late Stone e Iron Ages have been found here in addition to the rock art, which is probably more modern.
The paintings are rather faint but there are usually children from the village who are prepared to point them out to visitors.
São pinturas de rinoceronte, gemsbok, antílope e um grupo de 3 girafas, assim como humanos e figuras geométricas. The paintings are in shades de vermelho, laranja, marrom e preto, mas rather surprisingly no white paint has been used as in other Iron Age sites.
Because of the water source from the nearby rio Kolobeng it is possible that Manayana was a place of ritual for the San people (Bushmen) and this is the reason for this relatively rich rock art site.
|
www.gov.bw/tourism |
 |
Tsodilo Hills
Localizado na região noroeste de Botsuana, Tsodilo Hills é sítio cultural, considerado Patrimônio Mundial, tombado pela UNESCO, parece que em 2001...
O selo postal ampliado, emitido em 1968 pelo Serviço Postal de Botsuana, reproduz a fotografia com girafa em pintura rupestre de Tsodilo Hills. Foto: Departamento de Turismo do Governo de Botsuana (www.gov.bw/tourism/index.html).
 |
 |
In the flat barren landscape no oeste de Kalahari, some 50 quilômetros a oeste da vila de Sepupa on the banks of Panhandle, the sheer quartzite cliff-faces of the four Tsodilo Hills rise majestically above the surrounding savannah.
The four hills form a line and are referred to by the San people as “The Male” – the largest hill which reaches a height of 410 metros above the surrounding plain; “The Female” – a smaller hill, about 300m, but has an overall area of almost three times that of The Male; and the next in size of 40m is referred to as “The Child” and lies about 2km away from The Female.
Beyond these three is a much smaller unnamed knoll, located 2.2km northwest of The Child, which legend has it was The Male Hill's first wife who was discarded when he met and married the taller Female Hill.
 |
 |
The enigmatic and spiritual quality of the hills was noted by the famous author Sir Laurens van der Post in his book "The Lost World of the Kalahari" (see usefull books and readings).
It was here that Sir Laurens's cameras inexplicably jammed, his tape recorders ceased functioning and his party was attacked by swarms of bees three mornings running.
When he learned from his guide that two of his party had disturbed the Tsodilo spirits by ignoring long-established protocol and killing a warthog and a steenbok while approaching the sacred hills, van der Post buried a note of apology beneath the panel of paintings that now bears his name and it was apparently accepted.
Tsodilo is a place of special significance to the San who have been living here for thousands of years. They believe the hills are a resting place for the spirits of the deceased and that their various gods live in caverns within the Female Hill, from where they rule the world.
The most sacred place is near the top of the Male Hill; legend has it that the first spirit knelt here to pray after creating the world. This was when the rocks were still soft and the San believe you can still see the impression of his knees in the gray rock. It is believed that these gods will cause misfortune if anyone hunts or causes death near the hills. The Harnbukushu, who also live in the area, believe the hills are where God lowered man to earth.
Archaeological studies have revealed that this area has been occupied by humans for at least 100,000 years. There are paintings on all the hills that cover 9 km² of rock in a 22 km² area. The best sites are at the north end of the Female hill.
The fact that Tsodilo is totally removed from all other rock art sites in southern Africa adds to its aura of mystery and magic. The nearest known site is 250 km away.
What is more, the paintings at Tsodilo are generally unlike others in the southern African region in both style and the incidence of certain images. Many are isolated figures and over half depict wild and domestic animals, particularly the eland.
Some are scenes, but few seem to tell a story. Many are outlined schematic designs and geometrical patterns. It is almost certain that most were painted by the Bushmen.
One of the most common images at Tsodilo is of schematic men with erect penises. These paintings could represent the concepts of heat, energy, creation and growth and may be associated with the trance dance.
This dance produces an altered state of consciousness in which, the Bushmen believe, the dancer can heal the sick and control the natural and supernatural. The paintings depicting a mythological snake may corroborate this, as snakes in Bushman and Bantu mythology are associated with rain.
The schematic patterns may also have meanings - perhaps to do with creating rain to bring health and prosperity to all living things. Even the painting sites chosen on the hills would seem to point to their spiritual and religious significance.
Many are on high, inaccessible cliffs, with commanding views over the landscape. This could indicate an authority and control over the sky and earth, or protection for those living on earth. It would seem that little or nothing about the paintings was haphazard.
Archaeological research at the hills has recently challenged previously held ideas about human migrations to southern Africa.
Scientists have identified the shorelines of a small lake. Among the rare artifacts found there are some animal bone fish hooks dating back more than 20,000 years. Other archaeological discoveries include the location of mines among the hills.
There is evidence that between AD 800 and 1,100 the people at Tsodilo were engaged in mining black hematite, and possibly mica, and trading it through the extensive trade networks of Africa.
The Tsodilo Hills is one of the most historically significant rock art sites in the world with 500 individual sites charting thousands of years of human habitation. There is a small San encampment nearby as well as a village near the Male Hill inhabited by the Hambukushu people. Guides are available at these settlements.
The track to Tsodilo Hills is extremely rough and suitable only for four-wheel-drive vehicles. The turning off the main Maun/Shakawe road is just south of Sepupa and is indicated with a National Museum signpost.
There are no designated campsites in the area and camping is permitted anywhere, but again, be sure to treat Tsodilo with respect.
The western side of the Okavango is remote. This is the place of the “Mountain of the Gods” – written about by Laurens van der Post in “The Lost World of the Kalahari”; Botswana is generally very flat, and “Male” is the highest hill in Botswana at 1.385 metros.
Tsodilo Hills (Abril-Maio/2005). Foto do site: www.sabirdstamps.com.
 |
Gateway to Tsodilo Hills – There are numerosas pinturas adornam the hills (“Homem”, “Mulher” e “Criança”) e Rhino Trail on “Mulher” is the most commonly traversed.
“Montanha dos Deuses”, Tsodilo – Botsuana.
 |
 |
|
Emissões Filatélicas
Série de 4 valores e 1 bloco emitida em 1975 sobre Pinturas Rupestres de Tsodilo Hills: “Rock Painting Tsodilo Hills”. Os selos mostram avestruz, rinoceronte, hiena e escorpião. Yvert: 288/291. Scott: 136/139. Nota: NT o bloco...
 |
|
Série de 4 valores emitida em 1991, cujos selos mostram vários petroglifos. Yvert: 637/640. Scott: 490/493.
Série de 4 valores emitido em 1998, cujos selos mostram lugares turísticos: 35t (Baobab), 1P (Crocodile), 2P (Stalactites) e 2,50P (Tourists and Rock Painting). JT
Série de 4 valores emitido em 1999, cujos selos mostram lugares turísticos. Existe um magnífico painel de pinturas na pedra no alto de Tsodilo Hills. Pedras pintadas em Gubatsa Hills: um elefante, um antílope e uma girafa. Não se sabe se realmente é uma girafa ou um elande. Scott: 673/676. NT
Selo emitido em 2004 que mostra a Caverna Gcwihaba.
 |
 |
Última atualização: 15/02/2011. |
|
 |
 |
 |
