www.nhc-nam.org Site Details Site Contact Details Site Gallery
Musical Stone
Names: Musiekklippe Other Site Details
Classification  | A.05.3. Archaeology, Other
Proclamation No  | 032/1963
Place  | Bethanië, Rooipunt Farm No. 157
Region  | Karas
Site Environment  | The block rests on a supportive stone base, seperated from surrounding deep crevices. Another, unproclaimed musical stone lies next to this one. Rock engravings can also be found.
Previous Use  | "If one strikes into one of the holes with a sharp stone, a loud ringing sound is clearly audible." (Vogt 2004, p.33)
Refences  | Official Gazette 2503, No. 44, 1963. Vogt, Andreas, "National Monuments in Namibia", Windhoek 2004, p. 33.
Legal Status  | Declared as National Monument on 15.08.1963 by the Historical Monuments Commission for South West Africa (HMC).
     

Description

Large dolomite block with lighter spots, each marking a different pitch. Behind the block is a surface, cleared from all stones - possibly a dance floor.

.

Brief History

The stone has been struck repeatedly in past to produce sounds. Therefore lighter spots are visible. Similar specimens can be found on the Aar Farm, Farm Immenhof, in the Omaruru district and near Kimberley, South Africa.
Latest News Heritage Tourism
Proclamation of Spitzkoppe   Fri, Oct 22, 2010
  The National Heritage Council of Namibia h..
Proclamation of 13 national heritage places   Tue, Oct 05, 2010
The National Heritage Council of Namibia has given notice that it p..
National Heritage Register created   Fri, Nov 23, 2007
23.11.2007 EFFORTS are underway to establish a National Heritag..
Interview Interview Interview The White Lady Interview Petrified Forest