Discoveries in South Africa challenge perceptions of myth

Popular Mechanics features that the archaeologists uncovered ancient rock paintings depicting a horned serpent in South Africa, sparking discussions about its possible connection to real extinct creatures, specifically the dicynodonts.

Archaeologists have uncovered a rock painting of an animal that dates back at least 200 years, which may correlate with local fossils. The artwork features a horned serpent that could represent an extinct species known as a dicynodont.

By linking this artwork to fossil discoveries and the longstanding myths of the San people, scientists are eager to explore whether the horned serpent was a real creature rather than just a figment of legend. The notion of an ancient horned serpent traversing the landscape is both fascinating and unsettling. While the idea has been around due to previous fossil evidence and ancient tales, the recent discovery of these rock paintings raises new questions about the reality of such a creature’s existence.

The first formal scientific descriptions of the horned serpent—thought to be part of the dicynodont group—emerged in 1845. Given the numerous dicynodont fossils discovered in the Karoo Basin of South Africa, some researchers have speculated whether this once-believed mythical creature may actually have a basis in reality. The recent discovery of rock art dated between 1821 and 1835 lends additional support to the legend, as it predates the first formal mention of dicynodonts. This could offer valuable insights into the connections between the horned serpent and the indigenous San culture of South Africa.

In a study published in the journal PLOS ONE, Julien Benoit from the University of the Witwatersrand confirmed that the early 1800s rock art depicts an animal with tusks, found alongside tetrapod fossils in the area. "Altogether," Benoit noted, "they suggest a case of indigenous paleontology." However, establishing a direct link between this 200-year-old artwork and a variety of unidentified fossils from a long-extinct creature remains a challenge. Benoit stated, "The ethnographic, archaeological, and paleontological evidence aligns with the hypothesis that the Horned Serpent panel could depict a dicynodont."

By Naila Huseynova