The Stone Age inhabitants of Namibia were so adept at carving human andanimal footprintsthat modern - daytime Indigenous trackers can tell precisely which species these ancient engraver were depict in theirartworks . When canvas over 500 examples of tracks carved into rock faces , the present - day experts were able to discover not only the type of animate being , but also the sex , historic period , and even the precise wooden leg in more than 90 percent of cases .
researcher engaged the help of three autochthonous tracking expert – name Tsamgao Ciqae , /Ui Kxunta , and Thui Thao – all of whom have worked as professional tracking expert for commercial search in the Kalahari desert . When presented with 513 engravings of animal prints inrock artfrom the Later Stone Age , the experts identified 345 quadruped and 62 skirt tracks ( 106 human and 407 creature from 40 different species;Rhinoceros sp.is listed as a taxonomic category , but not reckon as a separate metal money ) .
In sum , the Indigenous tracker identify 40 different species , with animate being such as giraffes , kudus , springboks , guinea domestic fowl , and blank and fateful rhinos being the most common . Somewhat less frequently depicted were African wildcats , baboon , blue wildebeest , and buffalos , while only a single Acinonyx jubatus mark was find in the collection .
Hailing from the Doro ! Nawas Mountains , the Neolithic artwork take 398 cartroad go to adult animal compared to 98 from non - adults , while male tracks outnumbered female print by 227 to 180 . In addition to the animal marking , the researchers also found 106human tracksamong the carvings .
Unlike the animal photographic print , the human caterpillar track were predominantly non - adult , with only 15 attributed to in full developed individual . Overall , 74 of the humanity depicted in the rock art were identify as male with 32 were female . Further analysis revealed the mien of 56 right - metrical unit print and 50 markings come to to left feet .
“ It looks like the character that prehistorical engraver did not bring forth generic human footprints without markers of sex or age , ” compose the study authors . “ Similarly , the engraving of animal tracks do not let in generic forms ; instead , each is specific . ”
This finding is particularly striking when one considers that up to 80 percent of human figures that appear in ancient rock art in central Namibia are “ zero - marked ” , mean they have no specific sexual activity or age . similarly , a much lower diversity of species can be seen in the animate being figures from this part than in the animal print .
note the singular level of detail and lifelike accuracy of these engraved tracks , the study author suggest that these footprint were probably “ endow with complex import . ” However , after proposing and then decline a number of dissimilar hypotheses , the researcher are ineffective to determine exactly what role these remarkable carvings might have help .
“ Whatever the deep and symbolic meanings of these engravings , it could only emerge in its totality through a lineal conversation with the artists , ” they resolve .
The survey has been published in the journalPLOS ONE .
