The Daureb – in German: Brandberg – in Namibia, on the edge of the Namib Desert, is world-famous for its tens of thousands of rock paintings, including the most famous rock painting in Africa, the so-called “White Lady”. Prehistoric rock art is a worldwide phenomenon that also has a history of several tens of thousands of years. The forms and places associated with rock art are therefore correspondingly diverse. What they all have in common, however, is a principle that applies almost always and everywhere: the two basic techniques for creating the images were not mixed by the prehistoric artists. They either used painting with one or more colors, or they used the rock surface for engraving by pecking, scratching or grinding. Apparently, the use of one or the other technique was a “fundamental decision”. However, there are a few exceptions where both techniques occur together or even overlap. Such sites naturally attract particular scientific interest. One of these can be found in the Daureb. It is the small, very limited Dom Gorge, which is still largely unexplored and which now offers the opportunity to trace the relationship between painters and engravers. With the increase in tourism in the Daureb, which is desirable for the development of the region, a whole bundle of measures must be prepared for such a treasure in order to protect it from destruction and to make it accessible one day. This is exactly what the new project is all about. The first step, starting with scientific research, is a management plan as part of the process to declare the entire Daureb a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As many local people as possible are to be involved from the outset. Students from the University of Namibia will be involved in the research into the rock art and archaeology of the Dom Gorge, which is being conducted by Tilman Lenssen-Erz (Africa Research Unit at the Institute of Prehistory and Early History at the University of Cologne) and Goodman Gwasira (University of Namibia). However, the local tourist guides will also be involved, as part of the project are also assessments and recommendations on the infrastructure with access routes, camping facilities, water supply, etc. in order to enable tourism to flourish. This is done in close coordination with the National Heritage Council, the National Museum and the History Department of the University of Namibia. All scientific findings are handed over to the World Heritage Commission, as is the assessment for tourism development. This overall package should guarantee that the wealth of rock art will be accessible to many visitors without jeopardizing the Daureb/Brandberg site and its future exploration.
Film report
Dr. Tilmann Lenssen-Erz and Goodman Gwasira, MA explain the connections between archaeological research, cultural preservation and tourism activities at Namibia’s “Bilderberg”, the Brandberg and Daureb respectively.
(copyright Heike Heinemann-Bollig).
