Customer Reviews
Encyclopaedic work - By: Pieter, 15 May 2004 
This impressive book by photographer David Coulson & co-author Alec Campbell is a comprehensive study of the rock paintings & engravings of the African continent.
Chapter I deals with the history & peoples of Africa, with special chapters on the Bushmen & Bantu-speaking people. Chapter II is a discussion of rock art & speculations on who the artists were, including the latest research.
Chapter III explores the styles, subject matter & the specific rock art sites, whilst Cheaper IV is devoted to dating. Chapter V deals with Southern Africa under heading for Zimbabwe, Namibia, the southwestern Cape, the Maluti & Drakensberg mountains, the inland plateau & the Tsodilo hills.
The following two chapters are devoted to Eastern & Northern Africa respectively, whilst Chapter VIII discusses the geometric designs & the style called Late White paintings. Chapter IX considers aspects of preservation & the future of Africa's rock art.
The book contains 400 full colour photographs & line drawings plus 7 maps. These photographs also include living people & animals. The maps depict Africa, the language groups, African peoples, the distribution of rock art on the continent, & the specific distributionin Southern, Eastern & Northern Africa respectively.
This classic work concludes with a glossary, bibliography & index. I would also like to recommend the books The Cave Of Altamira, edited by Antonio Beltran, & The Mind In The Cave by Lewis-Williams.
David Coulson's photographs are consistently breathtaking - By: J. Nevill, 25 Nov 2001 David Coulson's photogaphs are breathtakingin this visually stunning & informative book. Never has rock art seemed so important to our understanding of our planet & our own development.
In addition to pleasing the eye Coulson & Campbell have succeededin conveying to the reader their personal passion for their subject. There is more than a little of the 'Indiana Jones' touch with a suggestion of danger, romance & adventure.
They also drive home efectively the urgent need for more work to be done to preserve some of the World's most important historical sites. We can only hope that whoever is responsible for choosing World Heritage sites takes note of what is contained within this book of treasures.
This is so much more than a coffeetable book. It is visually beautiful enough to qualify as such butin historic terms it is a haunting echo of our past, a reminder of our present, & a plea for our future. I cannot think of a more fitting gift for our educated & discerning youth!
The words are as good as the pictures - By: , 13 Aug 2001 I bought this book expecting a coffee table item - pretty but lacking substance. This was not the case - the text is informative & easy to read. The photographs are truly beautiful. Well worth the money.
