Painted panel, Mashonaland, Zimbabwe

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This massive 80-foot-long panel originates from Zombapata Cave, situated atop a prominent granite hill in Mashonaland, Zimbabwe. The panel showcases vibrant paintings of elephants, zebra, sheep, sable antelope, kudu, lions, and a large group of baboons, as well as various animal footprints. Zimbabwe boasts numerous significant rock art sites; the San people's paintings have been dated from 8,500 years ago to just after the arrival of Bantu-speaking farmers around 500 AD. Zimbabwean rock art stands out for its intricate complexity of imagery compared to other areas in Southern Africa, featuring more plants with oval shapes and large female antelope. The unique nature of Zimbabwe's rock art is believed to stem from a shared belief system that considers both flora and fauna as sources of natural power and potency. This model was created using original photographs from the African rock art image project, supported by the Arcadia Fund. For more information, visit www.britishmuseum.org/africanrockart.