Recent research from the University of the Witwatersrand has shed light on ancient musical practices through rock art in Zimbabwe, as reported by Phys.org. This study focuses on the intricate depictions created by the San people, a group of hunter-gatherers, which represent one of the most reliable sources in musical archaeology.
The rock art in eastern Zimbabwe consists primarily of two types: finely detailed images created by the San and those made by arriving farmers. The research team concentrated exclusively on the San's artistry. After identifying the depicted instruments, they categorized them into four Hornbostel-Sachs classifications: idiophones, membranophones, chordophones, and aerophones.
To confirm the identification of these items as musical instruments, the researchers meticulously analyzed the postures of the figures playing them. For instance, the hand positions of flute players indicate that the instrument is held at the mouth, directing airflow into it. In contrast, the grip for rattles shows the player holding a gourd-like object, flexing their wrists to create sound.
The team identified various instruments, including rattles, drums, trumpets, flutes, and swirling aerophones. Instrumentation varied by region; notably, foot rattles, common in Southern African art, were absent in Zimbabwe, as were musical bows typical in other Southern African areas. These differences may reflect the cultural characteristics of the groups that created the artwork.
The images often feature trance motifs, blending human and animal forms, unnatural poses, and surreal elements such as raised hair. San shamans performed trance dances for healing and various purposes, where musical instruments, particularly drums and rattles, played a crucial role. Flutes and trumpets were primarily used for entertainment.
Gender roles also emerged from the findings, with rattles depicted in the hands of both men and women. However, trumpets and flutes were predominantly associated with males. Ethnographic data suggest that San women were more likely to sing and clap, indicating distinct cultural norms and roles related to music.
This discovery follows the recent identification of the highest rock art in Europe, showcasing the ongoing significance of archaeological research in understanding historical cultures.