Gallery Asset

Rock painting of a Portuguese ship

A handful of rock art depictions of sailing vessels likely painted by South Africa’s indigenous San and Khoi peoples. Their art reflects the contact between them and European mariners after the end of the 15th century. South Africa’s geographical position at the mid-point on the maritime trade route between Europe and the East from the late 15th century onwards means that its recent history is inextricably linked to the history of the rest of the world.