Product Description

Divides Africa into its distinct rock art regions and discusses each in detail, providing unique insights into peoples' earliest perceptions of reality. Includes almost 400 photographs and line drawings.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #770591 in Books
• Published on: 2000-09-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Customer Reviews

Encyclopaedic work
This impressive book by photographer David Coulson and co-author Alec Campbell is a comprehensive study of the rock paintings and engravings of the African continent.

Chapter I deals with the history and peoples of Africa, with special chapters on the Bushmen and Bantu-speaking people. Chapter II is a discussion of rock art and speculations on who the artists were, including the latest research.

Chapter III explores the styles, subject matter and the specific rock art sites, whilst Cheaper IV is devoted to dating. Chapter V deals with Southern Africa under heading for Zimbabwe, Namibia, the southwestern Cape, the Maluti and Drakensberg mountains, the inland plateau and the Tsodilo hills.

The following two chapters are devoted to Eastern and Northern Africa respectively, whilst Chapter VIII discusses the geometric designs and the style called Late White paintings. Chapter IX considers aspects of preservation and the future of Africa's rock art.

The book contains 400 full colour photographs and line drawings plus 7 maps. These photographs also include living people and animals. The maps depict Africa, the language groups, African peoples, the distribution of rock art on the continent, and the specific distribution in Southern, Eastern and Northern Africa respectively.

This classic work concludes with a glossary, bibliography and index. I would also like to recommend the books The Cave Of Altamira, edited by Antonio Beltran, and The Mind In The Cave by Lewis-Williams.

David Coulson's photographs are consistently breathtaking
David Coulson's photogaphs are breathtaking in this visually stunning and informative book. Never has rock art seemed so important to our understanding of our planet and our own development.
In addition to pleasing the eye Coulson and Campbell have succeeded in conveying to the reader their personal passion for their subject. There is more than a little of the 'Indiana Jones' touch with a suggestion of danger, romance and adventure.
They also drive home efectively the urgent need for more work to be done to preserve some of the World's most important historical sites. We can only hope that whoever is responsible for choosing World Heritage sites takes note of what is contained within this book of treasures.
This is so much more than a coffeetable book. It is visually beautiful enough to qualify as such but in historic terms it is a haunting echo of our past, a reminder of our present, and a plea for our future. I cannot think of a more fitting gift for our educated and discerning youth!

The words are as good as the pictures
I bought this book expecting a coffee table item - pretty but lacking substance. This was not the case - the text is informative and easy to read. The photographs are truly beautiful. Well worth the money.