[OSGeo Africa] Maps of sub-saharan African cartography

[Aslam Parker]

I was referring to depiction of “terrestrial space” i.e topography.

FYI

I was just pointed to an interesting article by TIMM MAGS, titled: Cartographic Content of Rock Art in Southern Africa. http://www.press.uchicago.edu/books/HOC/HOC_V2_B3/HOC_VOLUME2_Book3_chapter2.pdf

In it he concludes: “At the present stage of research it seems there are no images that can be classified as terrestrial maps in the sense that they represent an actual part of the land surface. There are also no substantial claims that any rock art can be interpreted as celestial maps”.

Still looking ☺


From: Africa [mailto:africa-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Gavin Fleming
Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2017 2:58 PM
To: Africa local chapter discussions
Subject: Re: [OSGeo Africa] Maps of sub-saharan African cartography

The HartRAO educational centre shows indigenous constellations (if that’s what you mean by space maps)

On 04 Jul 2017, at 14:36, Douglas Anderson <djandersonza at gmail.com<mailto:djandersonza at gmail.com>> wrote:

Aaah, hmm, the problem there is that prior to colonialism indigenous people were illiterate. Apart from rock paintings and engravings I know of no attempt at drawing maps. Maybe some-one at the Iziko Museum or UCT archaeological department may assist you?



Yours Sincerely

Douglas Anderson
Ph: +27 (0) 78 751 0159

On 4 July 2017 at 13:31, Aslam Parker <Aslam.Parker at drdlr.gov.za<mailto:Aslam.Parker at drdlr.gov.za>> wrote:
Thank you very much Doug, I appreciate the information

I am actually looking for evidence of  maps, or depiction of space/geography by indigenous people.

From: Africa [mailto:africa-bounces at lists<mailto:africa-bounces at lists>.osgeo.org<http://osgeo.org/>] On Behalf Of Douglas Anderson
Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2017 1:23 PM
To: Africa local chapter discussions
Subject: Re: [OSGeo Africa] Maps of sub-saharan African cartography

Good Afternoon Aslam.

There is this map showing the distribution of the Khoi and San peoples in the Cape during the early stages of colonization and exploration
http://www.oldwynberg.co.za/khoisan.htm

A very interesting 'What if' map can be found here
http://bigthink.com/strange-maps/africa-uncolonized
Showing what Africa may've looked like had colonization by European countries not occurred, but it is speculative as Islamic colonization and indigenous colonization would alter this map quite considerably.







Yours Sincerely

Douglas Anderson
Ph: +27 (0) 78 751 0159

On 4 July 2017 at 10:34, Chris Berens <chris at mapland.co.za<mailto:chris at mapland.co.za>> wrote:
Hi Aslam, the closest I have come to an indigenous map is a verbal route map or song-line that I heard in 2009 which described a route taken by herders from Pella in the northern Cape as they went from waterhole to waterhole.  I was able to follow the route during the recitation using your 1:250,000 map which had enough named points in common.  Unfortunately we did not have a chance to record the audio/video.  The herding route (described/sung by Oom Paul Waterboer in Pella) predated the shift in ownership in that area.

On 4 July 2017 at 08:07, Aslam Parker <Aslam.Parker at drdlr.gov.za<mailto:Aslam.Parker at drdlr.gov.za>> wrote:
Hi All

Does anyone know of literature or resources that describes the depiction of space and/or maps  by African indigenous communities, specifically in Southern Africa.

Thanks

Aslam Parker
aslam.parker at drdlr.gov.za<mailto:aslam.parker at drdlr.gov.za>



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--
Chris Berens
Pr GISc (SAGC) #1308
+27 (0)82 567 9322

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