The Fire of the Ancestors

San tribesmen resting around the fire after the hunt (Namibia). The San people, commonly known as Bushmen, are the members of the indigenous hunter-gatherer cultures of southern Africa. They are believed to be the earliest inhabitants of the region since their existence can be traced back 140,000 years here. The San developed a rich culture of hunting rituals, spiritual ceremonies, complex rock paintings and trance-like healing dances. In this image, the San tribesmen are resting under an original ancient rock painting left thousands of years ago by their ancestors.