Cederberg Stadsaal Caves Rock Art
Late Stone Age 10,000 BCE–19th c. CE·San (Khoisan)·🇿🇦 Western Cape, South Africa
About
About Cederberg Stadsaal Caves Rock Art
Cederberg Stadsaal – Cape Fold Mountains sandstone domes and caves with Late Stone Age San rock art in Stadsaal Caves (Elephant Processional panel, 500–1600 CE), Sevilla Trail 130-site route. Rocks are de-structured galleta with elephant, human procession and handprint portrayals; Stadsaal (hall) eroded arch 100m across. Cape floristic and rock art combined heritage.
Why it mattersCederberg Stadsaal elephant procession in Cape sandstone dome landscape
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Dating precision and pigment chronology
- 02Symbolic meaning and shamanic interpretation
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre and cosmological alignment
- 02Territorial marker and ritual landscape
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Paintings 10 ka BCE–19th c.; Stadsaal elephant processional panels
- Period
- Late Stone Age 10,000 BCE–19th c. CE
- Culture
- San (Khoisan)
- Builders
- Cederberg San communities
- Purpose
- Cederberg San rock art caves and deformed sandstone Stadsaal procession
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
Paintings 10 ka BCE–19th c.; Stadsaal elephant processional panels
Initial construction
On the ground
Structures & features
32.4167° S · 19.2500° E · 920 m · 3 mapped features
Stadsaal Elephant Processional Panel
rock art panelElephant and human procession on Stadsaal domed cave ceiling
32.4164° S · 19.2502° ESevilla Trail Shelter 9 Panel
rock art panelHandprint and human figure trail station 9
32.4187° S · 19.2510° EStadsaal Natural Arch
natural feature100m deformational sandstone hall (Stadsaal) sheltering art
32.4162° S · 19.2504° E