Steps afoot to restore, protect rock art sites

THE National Monuments Council is to take urgent action to restore the country’s main rock art sites at the Spitzkoppe, Brandberg and Twyfelfontein.

Some sites, among the finest examples of ritual artwork in Africa, have been seriously degraded. The damage has been attributed to a lack of established site management plans and the rapid growth of tourism.Besides the loss to cultural heritage, damaged rock art sites hold serious implications for tourism especially in remote areas where there are fewer attractions.In October, specialists, tourism operators and local communities undertook a field trip to the sites to discuss better site management and conservation options.Yesterday, Director of the National Monument’s Council Tshikarepo Andjamba told The Namibian that preparations for the rehabilitation of sites had started.The council hopes all work will be completed by August.The European Union has donated about N$700 000 for the project.Twyfelfontein will probably need the most attention especially as Namibia intends to propose the site for World Heritage Status next year.Before then, however, a professional rock art restorer will have to be appointed to eliminate traces of vandalism from paintings.An official site entrance has to be developed and soil erosion measures taken along pathways leading to the sites.The training of guides has also been singled out as needing attention.Large numbers of visitors to the Brandberg has resulted in damage to the Maack Shelter which houses the famous ‘White Lady’.An elevated pathway will be built as a preventative measure and group sizes will be limited to eight people.Approach pathways to the Tiara Shelter, Ostrich Cave and Girls’ School Shelters are to be reinforced and coarse gravel will be laid on fine sediments below the paintings.At the Spitzkoppe it has been decided to shift picnic and camping areas away from rock art sites to curb smoke damage and grease splatters; roads and tracks which take vehicles to within 100 metres of rock art sites are to be closed off.Experts are still assessing the best area to build a lodge at the site after the original one was turned down last year because it would have encroached on archaeological remains.Andjamba says the council is considering imposing buffer zones at all archaeological sites to prohibit development from affecting natural heritage.A National Heritage Bill, to replace the National Monuments Council Act of 1969, is expected to be presented to Parliament next week.Its provisions are expected to include the protection of such sites and to deal with other situations specific to Namibia not accounted for by current legislation.The damage has been attributed to a lack of established site management plans and the rapid growth of tourism. Besides the loss to cultural heritage, damaged rock art sites hold serious implications for tourism especially in remote areas where there are fewer attractions. In October, specialists, tourism operators and local communities undertook a field trip to the sites to discuss better site management and conservation options. Yesterday, Director of the National Monument’s Council Tshikarepo Andjamba told The Namibian that preparations for the rehabilitation of sites had started. The council hopes all work will be completed by August. The European Union has donated about N$700 000 for the project. Twyfelfontein will probably need the most attention especially as Namibia intends to propose the site for World Heritage Status next year. Before then, however, a professional rock art restorer will have to be appointed to eliminate traces of vandalism from paintings. An official site entrance has to be developed and soil erosion measures taken along pathways leading to the sites. The training of guides has also been singled out as needing attention. Large numbers of visitors to the Brandberg has resulted in damage to the Maack Shelter which houses the famous ‘White Lady’. An elevated pathway will be built as a preventative measure and group sizes will be limited to eight people. Approach pathways to the Tiara Shelter, Ostrich Cave and Girls’ School Shelters are to be reinforced and coarse gravel will be laid on fine sediments below the paintings. At the Spitzkoppe it has been decided to shift picnic and camping areas away from rock art sites to curb smoke damage and grease splatters; roads and tracks which take vehicles to within 100 metres of rock art sites are to be closed off. Experts are still assessing the best area to build a lodge at the site after the original one was turned down last year because it would have encroached on archaeological remains. Andjamba says the council is considering imposing buffer zones at all archaeological sites to prohibit development from affecting natural heritage. A National Heritage Bill, to replace the National Monuments Council Act of 1969, is expected to be presented to Parliament next week. Its provisions are expected to include the protection of such sites and to deal with other situations specific to Namibia not accounted for by current legislation.