Rock art
Africa's rock art is the common heritage of all Africans, but it is more than that. It is the common heritage of humanity. Nelson Mandela
Related in the collection
Ostrich egg flask
On display in room 25
Engravings and paintings on rock faces, in caves and on portable objects such as water vessels reveal ancient peoples’ deep understanding and appreciation of the natural environment.
In South Africa, 60,000 year old fragments of decorated ostrich egg flasks have been recorded. This decorated ostrich egg flask was made by San people in South Africa.
The rock art of Africa makes up one of the oldest and most extensive records on earth of human thought.
Read more on the collection database
Images:
Rock art © David Coulson
Decorated ostrich egg water flask, made by San people © Trustees of
the British Museum
