The North-West University (NWU) Petroglyph Research Group, which is part of the Visual Narratives and Creative Outputs (ViNCO) and Musical Arts in South Africa: Resources and Applications (MASARA) guest lecture series, recently hosted an insightful seminar on the preservation and restoration of Khoe-San rock carvings. This seminar was presented by researchers At Lamprecht, Lynette Boardman, Theuns de Klerk, and Charl Yates, who discussed their groundbreaking work, and highlighted the role of technology in the conservation of indigenous heritage.

The conference underlined the importance of digitising and restoring the ancient cultural artefacts, as indigenous rock carvings across Southern Africa are at risk from harsh weather and human interference. At a site near Klerksdorp, the researchers have been cataloguing and testing software tools to record and enhance the carvings.

According to At Lamprecht, the project is still in its early stages but is already showing promise in preserving instrumental indigenous knowledge. “We are currently in the pre-petroglyph stage, focusing on data collection. Petroglyphs across Southern Africa are at risk due to exposure to extreme elements and human interference. By applying and testing advanced software tools, we aim to develop innovative methods to restore and digitally preserve these historic carvings,” he said.

Preserving Indigenous Knowledge