Study says San rock art depicts elephants, not dinosaurs

For decades, paleontologists have claimed that the San and Basotho peoples of southern Africa once depicted dinosaurs and tusked beasts in their rock art, a theory that has now been challenged by new research. The claim first appeared in a 2016 paper that argued that certain cave paintings in Namibia and Lesotho showed large reptiles with long tails and thick necks, supposedly evidence that Indigenous peoples witnessed dinosaur remains.

The idea gained traction because it promised to link oral traditions with the fossil record and to show that prehistoric humans had a broader understanding of the natural world. Researchers pointed to songs and myths that described “giant beasts” and to the sheer size of some rock images, suggesting that the artists were drawing creatures that lived millions of years before humans. The theory also fed into popular narratives that Indigenous knowledge holds untapped scientific secrets.

Recent analysis, however, has called the interpretations into question. A 2024 study using high‑resolution imaging and comparative iconography found that the figures previously identified as dinosaurs are more plausibly stylised representations of large mammals such as elephants or antelopes. The researchers noted that the proportions, posture, and contextual clues—such as the presence of domesticated cattle and human figures—do not match dinosaur anatomy. While some scholars defend the original readings, citing the persistence of certain motifs across regions, most experts now agree that the evidence for dinosaur depictions is weak.

The reassessment has implications beyond a single set of cave paintings. It underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between archaeologists, anthropologists, and paleontologists to avoid over‑interpretation of symbolic art. Future projects will focus on systematic surveys of rock art sites and on engaging Indigenous communities to understand the cultural meanings behind the images. The debate reminds the scientific community that even long‑standing theories can be overturned when new data and fresh perspectives are applied.