Academic Ethics and Traditional Worldviews of Repainting San Rock Art: Case Study: Descendants the Southern Drakensberg

The prehistoric rock art of the Drakensberg is internationally recognized as one of the world's greatest cultural treasures. Yet a fundamental question remains unresolved: who has the right to determine how this heritage should be protected and used? Should the ethical principles of archaeology and heritage conservation prevail, or should the traditional beliefs and practices of the descendants of the artists themselves be recognized?Drawing upon archaeology, anthropology, heritage conservation, ethics, history, and first-hand ethnographic research, Sian Hall examines the competing professional and traditional worldviews surrounding the repainting and ritual use of San rock art. Through detailed case studies of Drakensberg San descendants, this book explores the complex relationship between living heritage, Indigenous rights, conservation ethics, and cultural identity, challenging conventional approaches to the management of one of Africa's most significant archaeological landscapes.