Archaeologists in Kenya have discovered the remains of some of the world's oldest people. But bones here can only tell you so much about these early humans, says rock art expert David Coulson.
"[Bones] don't tell you about how we lived and loved and dressed and danced," he argues. "Rock art tells you all that, and that is completely priceless."
Priceless, and at risk. Quarrying has resulted in these ancient masterpieces being destroyed to make use for crop fertilizer and building aggregate.
Coulson, founder of The Trust for African Rock Art (TARA), has spent the last twenty years discovering, recording and preserving ancient drawings etched onto stone in 20 countries.
Chewa artwork in Malawi.
"There is a huge sophistication to the art," he adds. "It may look crude to us,but they have deep meaning. Although sadly most of the meaning has been lost."
"[But] if we don't really understand the importance and value of rock art, it won't be here for long," adds Coulson's colleague and community ambassador for TARA, Kabiru Josiah.
Along with the loss of the art's meaning is the understanding that it is a vital heritage, and more important than short-term gain for some communities.
"They are the custodians and [the art is] at their disposal -- either to protect it or to destroy it," says Josiah. "But once we engage them and show them how important it is for the heritage, then we can succeed in conservation missions."
Batwa artwork from Kenya.
It's not always possible for TARA to succeed however. A recent trip to Kisii in Kenya's southwest revealed fresh and irreversible damage to the area's rock art.
At a site dating back more than 1,000 years, Coulson and Josiah arrived to find men quarrying the rock face, a rubble heap replacing what was once an expanse of ancient symbols.
Eze Afrika
