Southern Africa's first known stenciled rock art found hiding in plain sight
Archaeologists have discovered the first-ever stenciled rock art in southern Africa at the La Rochelle rock shelter in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The discovery is unique because the stencils were created using templates rather than physical objects, a rare technique globally.
Why it matters
This finding challenges existing knowledge about the artistic traditions and techniques used by ancient populations in southern Africa.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Robert Egan
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Add to Preferred Sources Tracing of the stenciled figures at La Rochelle, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Credit: Traced by David Pearce, redrawn by Dineo Masia in Pearce and Johnson 2026 Southern Africa has one of the most detailed and elaborate bodies of rock art anywhere in the world, from herds of running antelope to dancing men and humanoid beings with wings, hooves and horns. All are painted with fine brushstrokes or fingers. One thing this art lacks is stencils.
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