Standing Cairns - Spot the difference?
06 Oct 2010 10:12 - 14 May 2013 09:20 #1880
by SeriousTribe2
I have attached two images borrowed off the site, to illustrate my question. (Thank you to the donors)
Can anyone shed light on the very tall cairns found on the summit and into Lesotho. Who builds them? Why? Why are they built so tall? Why do they not just mark spot heights or the border boundry?
I have some of my own theorys, but wish to see what others exist, or what facts come to light. In either event, the startling similarity between a vertical idle sheperd and a verticl idle cairn, is the reason I lug binoculars along.
Standing Cairns - Spot the difference? was created by SeriousTribe2
I have attached two images borrowed off the site, to illustrate my question. (Thank you to the donors)
Can anyone shed light on the very tall cairns found on the summit and into Lesotho. Who builds them? Why? Why are they built so tall? Why do they not just mark spot heights or the border boundry?
I have some of my own theorys, but wish to see what others exist, or what facts come to light. In either event, the startling similarity between a vertical idle sheperd and a verticl idle cairn, is the reason I lug binoculars along.
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Last edit: 14 May 2013 09:20 by intrepid. Reason: Fixed broken image links
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06 Oct 2010 11:32 #1881
by Serious tribe
Replied by Serious tribe on topic Re: Standing Cairns - Spot the difference?
The stone shepherds guard the citadels from invading armies, they also stop errant sheep from wandering off because they think that the shepherd is nearby and can see them!
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07 Oct 2010 09:34 - 07 Oct 2010 09:34 #1885
by intrepid
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Replied by intrepid on topic Re: Standing Cairns - Spot the difference?
I wonder about those cairns a lot too. Thats a great comparison between the shepherd and the cairn!
@ST: interesting perspective...
My assumption has always been that it is mostly shepherds that build them. Many of them appear on at seemingly arbitrary places on ridges, not necessarily marking a summit. These tend to be quite visible on the skyline and are commonly in the vicinity of a kraal. For this reason I've thought that they may be navigational markers which help the shepherds, particularly in misty conditions (note how visible they are on skylines, even in the mist).
Sometimes they appear on high, water-shed ridges, seemingly marking a pass over the ridge - a "lekhalo" more accurately said. There are some good examples between Mafadi and Leslies Pass, near the 3300m spot heights above Yodler's Cascades, and there is a particularly tall and neatly built one near ka-Masihlenga Pass. I've thought that they may be border makers, but they are not consistent enough.
The one the attached pic belongs to a pair that seem to mark the summit of Ts'ehlanyane Pass on the Maloti Range. Between the two flat-topped peaks in the background is another one.
Whatever they are, they certainly are very neatly built...they obviously have time on their hands. Hikers cairns tend to be so messy in comparison!
@ST: interesting perspective...
My assumption has always been that it is mostly shepherds that build them. Many of them appear on at seemingly arbitrary places on ridges, not necessarily marking a summit. These tend to be quite visible on the skyline and are commonly in the vicinity of a kraal. For this reason I've thought that they may be navigational markers which help the shepherds, particularly in misty conditions (note how visible they are on skylines, even in the mist).
Sometimes they appear on high, water-shed ridges, seemingly marking a pass over the ridge - a "lekhalo" more accurately said. There are some good examples between Mafadi and Leslies Pass, near the 3300m spot heights above Yodler's Cascades, and there is a particularly tall and neatly built one near ka-Masihlenga Pass. I've thought that they may be border makers, but they are not consistent enough.
The one the attached pic belongs to a pair that seem to mark the summit of Ts'ehlanyane Pass on the Maloti Range. Between the two flat-topped peaks in the background is another one.
Whatever they are, they certainly are very neatly built...they obviously have time on their hands. Hikers cairns tend to be so messy in comparison!
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Last edit: 07 Oct 2010 09:34 by intrepid.
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08 Oct 2010 07:49 #1892
by Serious tribe
Replied by Serious tribe on topic Re: Standing Cairns - Spot the difference?
I would agree with the navigation theory. Although when the mist is really thick you can barely see your hands in front of you. I somehow doubt the shepherds would risk loosing their sheep into any of the gullies during a really misty day. I would reckon that they would just sit tight, and build another large cairn to pass the time, as you said, they are really well built.
It is not surprising though that hikers cairns are sloppy. They gasp up to the top of the ridge, throw their pack down, chuck a rock on the cairn and take a rest. I have never actually put a stone on a cairn on the top, or though we built a beauty along the cathedral traverse. Hey st2, scan that image and pop it onto this thread, our "is that a cairn or what" image.
Perhaps someone can ask one of the shepherds the next time they bump into one, a shepherd I mean, not a cairn
It is not surprising though that hikers cairns are sloppy. They gasp up to the top of the ridge, throw their pack down, chuck a rock on the cairn and take a rest. I have never actually put a stone on a cairn on the top, or though we built a beauty along the cathedral traverse. Hey st2, scan that image and pop it onto this thread, our "is that a cairn or what" image.
Perhaps someone can ask one of the shepherds the next time they bump into one, a shepherd I mean, not a cairn
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08 Oct 2010 21:33 #1901
by SeriousTribe2
Replied by SeriousTribe2 on topic Re: Standing Cairns - Spot the difference?
Keep it coming. comments? theories?
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29 Mar 2012 20:49 #53374
by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic Re: Standing Cairns - Spot the difference?
[nothing like reviving an old topic from before the time I joined this site]
That one near Thlanyako Pass had me fooled, until we where fairly close to it I thought it was a shepherd, the joys of shadows and people who wear gray clothes...
That one near Thlanyako Pass had me fooled, until we where fairly close to it I thought it was a shepherd, the joys of shadows and people who wear gray clothes...
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14 Apr 2013 10:16 - 25 May 2013 11:16 #56688
by Philip
Replied by Philip on topic Re: Standing Cairns - Spot the difference?
This is a hugely interesting subject and like most things in African culture a lot more complex than it appears at first sight. If you ask the average Mosotho the answer will be something like 'to scare away the jackals' but it has more to do with traditional belief systems still prevalent in Lesotho. Jackal are considered 'magical' and are believed to be able to make themselves 'invisible' ie move in and out of the spirit world. Some shepherds believe that jackals think the standing cairns are people and will stay away, others urinate on them for the same reason, others scatter traditional medicine in the vicinity. They also play a (mythical) role in protecting shepherds and their animals from lightning, which is a big concern as you can imagine. Many believe that lightning can be summoned with evil intent by 'witches'. Remember that these standing cairns go back a while when jackal and other predators were more plentiful, and traditional belief systems even more prevalent than today.
What is useful to us as hikers is that the standing cairns will indicate the close proximity of a motibo (or shepherds house), and therefore the distinct possibility of dogs...so watch out! There is more but I will end up writing a book!
What is useful to us as hikers is that the standing cairns will indicate the close proximity of a motibo (or shepherds house), and therefore the distinct possibility of dogs...so watch out! There is more but I will end up writing a book!
Last edit: 25 May 2013 11:16 by Philip.
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14 May 2013 07:54 #56899
by diverian
Replied by diverian on topic Re: Standing Cairns - Spot the difference?
On a hike to the Vergelegen area last week we noticed several cairns that appeared to have been white-washed.
One on top of ka-Ntuba peak, which Intrepid did not recall being painted on a previous trip several years ago.
and another one of a pair on a ridge to the south.
Does anyone have any ideas of the significance of the "painting" of the cairns, or the "dual" nature of the ones
above ?
One on top of ka-Ntuba peak, which Intrepid did not recall being painted on a previous trip several years ago.
and another one of a pair on a ridge to the south.
Does anyone have any ideas of the significance of the "painting" of the cairns, or the "dual" nature of the ones
above ?
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14 May 2013 10:33 #56903
by thomas
Replied by thomas on topic Re: Standing Cairns - Spot the difference?
In all my years in Lesotho I have never seen a whitewashed cairn, and I think never is not too strong of a word given the remoteness of most cairns. I might suggest the TFCA Project, either the South Africans or the Basotho officials.
Might suggest VE go on a whitewash cairn hunt, do they exist in other parts of the Berg? Let us know since the TFCA is supposed to cover it all? Are they located as these 2 photos suggest, on the watershed or elsewhere and "anywhere"?
One might be slightly troubled at these possible harbingers of some sort of man-made intervention to come, not unlike staking out a road, building foundation or non-natural structure (fence?).
I hope my theory indicates I have too much time on my hands. A survey of other Berg sites will have much to offer in proving or disproving.
Might suggest VE go on a whitewash cairn hunt, do they exist in other parts of the Berg? Let us know since the TFCA is supposed to cover it all? Are they located as these 2 photos suggest, on the watershed or elsewhere and "anywhere"?
One might be slightly troubled at these possible harbingers of some sort of man-made intervention to come, not unlike staking out a road, building foundation or non-natural structure (fence?).
I hope my theory indicates I have too much time on my hands. A survey of other Berg sites will have much to offer in proving or disproving.
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25 May 2013 10:51 - 25 May 2013 11:18 #57059
by Philip
Replied by Philip on topic Re: Standing Cairns - Spot the difference?
There is an American organization called the Millennium Challenge Corporation. It was started to improve the image of the USA after 9/11. Anyway, they are working with the Lesotho Department of Land Affairs to introduce some sort of 'range management' in an attempt to reduce the effect of over grazing on Lesotho's sensitive water catchments. They are the ones behind the building of new whitewashed cairns and the whitewashing of other existing cairns to mark out grazing areas. The idea is that certain areas are 'off-limits' to shepherds and their animals for periods of time.
It is very likely that the next scarce, and therefore valuable natural resource worldwide will be fresh and unpolluted water.
If you are ultra cynical, and I have heard this viewpoint from Basotho people, the USA may be attempting to establish its influence on an important and strategic regional catchment area!
It is very likely that the next scarce, and therefore valuable natural resource worldwide will be fresh and unpolluted water.
If you are ultra cynical, and I have heard this viewpoint from Basotho people, the USA may be attempting to establish its influence on an important and strategic regional catchment area!
Last edit: 25 May 2013 11:18 by Philip.
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