Mwela Rock Paintings, Petroglyphic site near Kasama, Zambia.
Mwela Rock Paintings is a petroglyphic site containing over 1,000 paintings spread across multiple rock outcrops in Zambia's northern region. The artwork covers caves and rocky shelters, displaying the creative expressions of ancient peoples who lived in this landscape.
The paintings were created during the Later Stone Age by hunter-gatherers who recorded their daily activities and hunting practices on rock surfaces. These works provide rare evidence of how ancient societies organized themselves and interacted with their environment.
The paintings depict animals, human figures, and geometric patterns found across caves and rock shelters throughout the area. These images offer visitors a window into how ancient people thought about their world and what they valued most.
Visitors should arrange transportation from Kasama to reach the site and bring adequate water supplies for the visit. Sturdy footwear is essential because the terrain is rocky and uneven in many areas.
The paintings are deeply integrated with the surrounding grasslands and wetlands, creating a cultural landscape that holds spiritual meaning for local communities today. This connection between the art and the land gives the site a living quality that extends beyond its ancient origins.
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