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Pongo symbolism in the geometric rock art of Uganda

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2011

Catherine Namono
Catherine Namono*
Affiliation:
Rock Art Research Institute, School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, P/Bag 3, P.O. Wits, 1 Jan Smuts Ave., 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa (Email: catherine@rockart.wits.ac.za)
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Extract

In this paper the author places the rock art of Uganda in context. It probably belongs to the Late Stone Age period to the Holocene and its symbolism may be interpreted in the light of later belief systems recorded amongst the historical Pygmy people. Pongo is the bark cloth used to make the distinctive loin cloths of men and aprons of women. Pongo are probably depicted in the rock art to evoke the fecundity of ndura, linking the real and supernatural within the Pygmy cosmos.

Keywords

Ugandarock artLate Stone AgePygmy peoplesbark clothpongofertility imageryndura
Type
Research article
Information
Antiquity , Volume 85 , Issue 330 , December 2011 , pp. 1209 - 1224
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd 2011

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