Traces of human life from 6,000 years ago
Twyfelfontein is a valley located in Damaraland, an arid and mountainous region of north-central Namibia. Scattered throughout the area are remarkable rock formations bearing more than 2,500 rock engravings and paintings, believed to date back approximately 6,000 years.
The site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 and provides a fascinating insight into the daily life and spiritual beliefs of the region’s ancient inhabitants. Human and animal figures, including elephants, rhinoceroses and giraffes, together with hunting scenes and geometric symbols, reveal far more than a simple form of prehistoric artistic expression. As is the case with much rock art around the world, the engravings and paintings found in the Twyfelfontein Valley are believed to have had a ritual and symbolic purpose, and are thought to have been created in connection with shamanic practices.