African Elephants, Roan Antelope, Language and Rock Art

Abstract

Linguistic and ethological data regarding elephants are examined in relation to southern African rock art, with special reference to the behaviour of these large tusked animals which become especially dangerous and aggressive when wounded, as in the case also of roan (hippotragine) antelope which have long curved horns. In this paper I attempt to demonstrate that the behaviour of wounded elephants and roan may have been the basis for the expression of at least some concepts identifiable in prehistoric art. Words can be regarded as “fossils” in the context of what may be called “linguistic palaeontology”.

Keywords

• rock art
• rock engravings
• elephant
• antelope
• linguistic
• ethology