Rewriting the History of Paleontology: Ancient San Rock Painting Depicts 250-Million-Year-Old Animal

A groundbreaking discovery in South Africa’s Free State province has shed new light on the history of paleontology. A San rock painting, estimated to be no later than 1835, depicts an extinct mammal-like reptile called a dicynodont, predating its official scientific discovery by at least a decade.

The Discovery

The painting, located in a cave on the La Belle France farm, was previously misidentified as a walrus-like creature or saber-toothed cat. However, paleontologist Professor Julien Benoit from the University of the Witwatersrand has reinterpreted the artwork, revealing a striking resemblance to dicynodonts.

Dicynodonts: Ancient Relatives of Mammals

Dicynodonts roamed the Earth between 265 and 200 million years ago, with fossil deposits found in the Karoo region of South Africa. The San people likely discovered these fossils and attempted to reconstruct the living animal in their art.

Evidence of Early Paleontological Insights

The painting’s depiction of the animal’s body posture, mimicking the “death pose” seen in fossilized skeletons, supports the connection to paleontological findings. Fossil bones found near the cave further strengthen this theory.

A New Timeline

The painting’s estimated date predates the first scientific description of dicynodonts by British paleontologist Sir Richard Owen in 1845. This establishes the San as pioneering paleontologists, recognizing and depicting extinct species before Western scientists.

Cultural Significance

The dicynodont may have held special significance in San cosmology, depicted as a “rain-animal” in mythology. This research highlights the deep scientific understanding and observational skills of indigenous communities.

Rewriting History

This discovery opens new avenues for interpreting rock art and understanding ancient peoples’ relationships with the prehistoric world.

Key Takeaways