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Matsieng
The Creation of Man
Matsieng is one of the best known and most important cultural sites in all of Africa. Located just northeast of Gaborone, Matsieng is believed by the people of Botswana to be the birthplace of humankind. The site includes 117 engravings in rock faces, which according to folklore, depict the markings of Matsieng, the Great Hunter. The engraved petroglyph footprints date back between 3,000 and 10,000 years.
History
Matsieng Footprints
The footprints found in Matsieng are engraved petroglyphs found in southern Botswana. It is believed that Matsieng was once a ritual site due to its role in local folktales. It is here that locals say the first people on earth were formed from the water holes.
There are many different stories about the origin of Matsieng. According to local lore, Matsieng was a one-legged giant who emerged from the mysterious waterhole with his livestock, where they left footprints on the soft sandstone to harden over time.
Matsieng the Hunter
Images
