San and KhoiKhoi

Who were the first people to live in South Africa? Who were the KhoiKhoi?
The San lived about 20,000 years ago. The KhoiKhoi arrived after, 2000 years ago. • Herders: they kept herds of livestock (sheep, cattle).
• Semi Hunter-gatherers: They also got food from hunting and gathering plant food.
Who were the San? • Nomadic: They didn’t have a fixed home. They looked for the best grazing for their animals as
• Hunter-gatherers: lived off the natural land, men hunted for wild animals and the seasons changed.
the women looked for honey, nuts roots and fruit. • Pastoralists: a person that looks after livestock (KhoiKhoi).
• Nomadic: They didn’t have a fixed home. They followed the animals and moved • Minimalists: they didn’t have many belongings as they had to move around a lot.
from place to place.
• Lived in small groups of families: They shared everything with one another
• There weren’t farmers: They didn’t grow crops or keep animals, the San How did the San and KhoiKhoi make tools?
caused very little damage to the environment. From stone.
• Good knowledge of plants: they used plants to treat wounds and heal
illnesses. What were the similarities between San and KhoiKhoi?
• Excellent trackers and hunters: they would track follow the animal for days. • Both were hunter gatherers: Men hunted for meat and women gathered food from plants.
• Stone tools: They both made tools from stone.
What plants did the San use to treat wounds and illnesses? • Both were nomadic: moved from place to place.
• Buchu – for stomach aches • Religious: both San and KhoiKhoi believed in a higher being
• Hoodia – bitter taste which stops one feeling hungry or thirsty.
• Sickle bush – chew for headaches and toothaches. Rub on snake bite wounds. Main differences between the San and the KhoiKhoi
• Bushman’s poison – poisonous milky juice which they put on the tips of their
arrows to kill animals with. San KhoiKhoi

How did the San get water during the dry seasons? Hunter-gatherers Herders (pastoralists) – kept livestock
Women would dig holes in the sand to get water and squeeze moisture out of roots. They moved after the animals and moved as They moved to find the best grazing for their
The stored the water in ostrich shells seal it with a clay ‘plug’. the seasons changed animals

How did the San make their bow and arrow? They didn’t have a chief leader - everyone They had a chief leader and a hierarchy (rich
Bow: made from a strong elastic branch. was seen as the same. and poor)
Bow string: made from the back muscles of a gemsbok. Lived in caves, any shelter, small grass huts Lived in camps: with beehive shaped
Arrow: was made from stone or bone which they dipped in poison. houses
Were the San religious? They didn’t have pottery They made pottery
Yes. They believed in spirits and in gods (not Christian).
They didn’t drink milk Livestock produced milk which they drank
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San Rock Art

What is an archaeologist? What is a Coat of Arms?

A person who studies and investigates how people lived a long time ago. They look A collection of pictures on a shield with a motto. Each picture has a specific
for things that were left behind. meaning and symbol about South Africa.

How old is some of the San rock art?

Some art dates back 10,000 years. The oldest rock art is at Blombos cave in the
Western Cape (73,000 years old). Key concepts
Why is the rock art so important? 1. Who were the San? (6 points)
• First form of human creativity. (apes aren’t creative) 2. Who were the KhoiKhoi? (5 points)
• First evidence of storytelling.
3. Which plants did the San use for ailments? (4 points)
• Rock art shows how the San lived, their religion and feelings.
4. How did the San get water during the dry seasons?
What are the main colours in the rock art? 5. Name the similarities between the Khoi and the San. (3 points)
Red, yellow, white and black. The red colours came from rust powder. 6. Name the differences between the Khoi and San. (5 points)
The used Eland’s blood to make the paint stay in place on the rock (sticky).
7. What is an archaeologist?
What instruments did they use to paint onto the rock? 8. Why is the San rock art so important? (3)
They made paintbrushes by sticking feathers or hair onto the end of reeds. 9. How did the San make their paint brushes?
10. What is a Coat of Arms?
Where can one find San rock art in Southern Africa? 11. Name the different pictures on the South Africa’s Coat of Arms. (7 points)
Cederberg, Kimberly in the Northern Cape, Drakensberg, Lesotho, Namibia
12. What does the motto mean on our Coat of Arms?

Nomad People who don’t have a fixed home and move from place to
place in search of food
Archaeologist Person who studies and investigates how people lived a long
time ago. They look for things that were left behind.
Coat of Arms Collection of pictures on a shield with a motto. Each picture
has a specific meaning and symbol about South Africa.

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South African Coat of Arms

Rising sun: represents brightness, light and a source of life

Secretary bird: divine power and the wings represent the rising up and protection of the nation

Protea Petals: represents the beauty of South Africa and the flowering potential of our country.

Knobkierie and spear: crossed over to show peace

Elephant tusks: symbolizes wisdom, strength, moderation and eternity

Ears of wheat: represents fertile farming land and growth

Human figures: copied from San rock art called the Linton Stone. They represent unity and greeting

Motto: It means “People who are different join together”

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KhoiKhoi hut – beehive shape San rock art San people

San hunters

KhoiKhoi camps

San drinking water

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Hoodia
Sickle bush Buchu

Bushman’s poison
Deadly beetle poison

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