San Rock Art May Depict Extinct Animal

Recent research suggests that a mysterious tusked animal depicted in South African rock art, created by the San people between 1821 and 1835, might be inspired by fossils of the long-extinct dicynodont. The Horned Serpent Panel, located in the Free State Province, shows a long-bodied creature with downward-turned tusks, resembling these ancient therapsids that lived over 200 million years ago. This theory, proposed by Julien Benoit from the University of the Witwatersrand, indicates that the San had an advanced understanding of their environment, incorporating fossil discoveries into their art. The San's depiction of dicynodonts predates Western scientific descriptions by at least ten years, showcasing a significant yet largely forgotten indigenous knowledge of paleontology. This finding highlights the San's integration of their natural surroundings and fossil records into their cultural and spiritual life.