Termites of the Gods : San Cosmology in Southern African Rock Art

In __Termites of the Gods__, Siyakha Mguni narrates his personal journey, over many years, to discover the significance of a hitherto enigmatic theme in San rock paintings known as ‘formlings’. Formlings are a painting category found across the southern African region, including South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, with its densest concentration in the Matopo Hills, Zimbabwe. Generations of archaeologists and anthropologists have wrestled with the meaning of this painting theme in San cosmology without reaching consensus or a plausible explanation. Drawing on San ethnography published over the past 150 years, Mguni argues that formlings are, in fact, representations of flying termites and their underground nests, and are associated with botanical subjects and a range of larger animals considered by the San to have great power and spiritual significance. This book fills a gap in rock art studies around the interpretation and meaning of formlings. Siyakha Mguni's personal journey, over many years, to discover the significance of a hitherto enigmatic theme in San rock paintings known as formlings. In Termites of the Gods, Siyakha Mguni narrates his personal journey, over many years, to discover the significance of a hitherto enigmatic theme in San rock paintings known as 'formlings'. Formlings are a painting category found across the southern African region, including South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, with its densest concentration in the Matopo Hills, Zimbabwe. Generations of archaeologists and anthropologists have wrestled with the meaning of this painting theme in San cosmology without reaching consensus or a plausible explanation. Drawing on San ethnography published over the past 150 years, Mguni argues that formlings are, in fact, representations of flying termites and their underground nests, and are associated with botantical subjects and a range of larger animals considered by the San to have great power and spiritual significance. This book fills a gap in rock art studies around the interpretation and meaning of formlings. It offers an innovative methodological approach for understanding subject matter in San rock art that is not easily recognisable, and will be an invaluable reference book to students and scholars in rock art studies and archaeology. In Termites of the Gods, Siyakha Mguni narrates his personal journey, over many years, to discover the significance of a hitherto enigmatic theme in San rock paintings known as {u2018}formlings{u2019}. Formlings are a painting category found across the southern African region, including South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, with its densest concentration in the Matopo Hills, Zimbabwe. Generations of archaeologists and anthropologists have wrestled with the meaning of this painting theme in San cosmology without reaching consensus or a plausible explanation. Drawing on San ethnography published over the past 150 years, Mguni argues that formlings are, in fact, representations of flying termites and their underground nests, and are associated with botantical subjects and a range of larger animals considered by the San to have great power and spiritual significance. This book fills a gap in rock art studies around the interpretation and meaning of formlings. It offers an innovative methodological approach for understanding subject matter in San rock art that is not easily recognisable, and will be an invaluable reference book tostudents and scholars in rock art studies and archaeology Front Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright 5 Contents 8 Acknowledgements 10 Foreword 11 Maps 13 Explanatory notes 17 Preface: Searching the pasts 20 Introduction 32 Chapter 1: Ancient mysteries on rocks 44 Chapter 2: Meaning in San rock art 62 Chapter 3: Tricksters, potency and dance 78 Chapter 4: Ways of seeing San rock art 100 Chapter 5: Probing deep into formlings 122 Chapter 6: Formlings and San cosmological belief 152 Chapter 7: Symbolic theatres of San cosmos 186 Notes 203 List of maps and figures 217 Picture credits 219 References 220 Index 228 Back Cover 234 Ancient Mysteries On Rocks -- Meaning In San Rock Art -- Tricksters, Potency And Dance -- Ways Of Seeing San Rock Art -- Probing Deep Into Formlings -- Formlings And San Cosmological Belief -- Symbolic Theatres Of San Cosmos. Siyakha Mguni. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 189-196) And Index.