What’s in a Name? Two Books and Thirty Years of San Rock Art Research

As anyone familiar with the literature on southern African rock art will know, the title of this volume alludes to Patricia Vinnicombe’s landmark work, People of the Eland: Rock Paintings of the Drakensberg Bushmen as a Reflection of Their Life and Thought, published in 1976. The current volume, according to the editors, was originally conceived as an updated version of that book, integrating her updated ideas and new archaeological knowledge from excavations—a task that could not go forward following Vinnicombe’s untimely death in 2003. The Eland’s People is a collection of essays intended as a “suitable memorial” by “some of those” who have conducted research in this area since then (p. 6).

In terms of design and production, the volume has plusses and minuses. Perhaps a hardback, and a less “text-book”-like flavor, would have constituted a better tribute, but possibly costs were prohibitive. The volume is profusely illustrated, with some previously unpublished material, but also some redundant graphics (notably, a full page map—figure 7.6—emblazoned in a large font with the names of four researchers, denoting the areas they have worked). In terms of the text, the decision to include “boxes” works better in some places than others. Boxes 9 and 10 on conservation seem superfluous to the volume’s theme. There are also copyediting and proofing errors. For example, in the table of contents, chapter 2 is entitled ”Patricia Vinnicombe: A Memoir,” with the authors listed as Peter Mitchell and Ben Smith. In fact the memoir is by Lewis-Williams.

The back cover matter expresses the hope that the volume ”will provide a richer appreciation of the importance of Pat’s original work, as well as allowing readers an overview of current understandings of Drakensberg rock art.” In the former it largely, if not entirely, succeeds, and as such deserves a place on the bookshelves of those researching south African rock art.