I love researching and writing! It’s about exploring the way that people have created and shared their ideas and beliefs in the form of what we call rock art. The rock art itself is only the tangible remains of a bigger picture – and that’s what keeps me intrigued. All my research (so far!) has been on southern African rock art.
I am a National Research Foundation (NRF) rated researcher and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Rock Art Research Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
My latest NRF rating for 2019-2024 is C2. That’s up from C3, my previous rating.
Publications
Books
J.C. Hollmann. 2017. The Cutting edge: Khoe-San rock-markings at the Gestoptefontein-Driekuil engraving complex, North-West Province, South Africa. Cambridge Monographs in African Archaeology 97. ISBN 9781784917036.
J.C. Hollmann. 2004. Customs and Beliefs of the /Xam Bushmen. Wits University Press and Ringing Rocks Press. ISBN 1-86814-399-6.
Chapters in books
J.C. Hollmann. 2016. A glimpse into the archaeology of the Qing-Orpen sites. In: De Prada-Samper, J.M., Du Plessis, M., Hollmann, J.C., Weintroub, J., Wintjes, J. & Wright, J. On the trail of Qing and Orpen, pp. 123-157. Standard Bank: Johannesburg. ISBN 978-0-620-68845-1.
J.C. Hollmann. 2014. Moths of the game: /xam Bushman beliefs about hunting and rock paintings of moths. In: Deacon, J & Skotnes, P. (eds). The courage of //kabbo: celebrating the 100th anniversary of the publication of Specimens of Bushman folklore, pp. 243-245. UCT Press: Cape Town. ISBN 978-1-91989-546-8.
Peer-reviewed articles
J.C. Hollmann. 2018. Digital technology, documentation and research of hunter-gatherer rock art, South Africa. African Archaeological Review 35: 157-168. DOI 10.1007/s10437-018-9296-0.
J.C. Hollmann, F. Prinsloo, W. Fourie & M. Hutton. 2017. Removal Of Rock Art Affected By The Raising Of The Clanwilliam Dam Wall, Western Cape Province, South Africa: Techniques And Procedures. Conservation and Management of Archaeological Sites 19(4): 244-268.
J.M. De Prada-Samper, J.C. Hollmann. 2017. “From the lips of the Bushmen”: unpublished |xam San comments on Stow’s South African rock art copies. Southern African Humanities 30: 1–34.
J.C. Hollmann. 2015. Bees, honey and brood: southern African hunter-gatherer paintings of bees and bees’ nests, uKhahlamba-Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Azania: archaeological research in Africa. 50(3): 343-371. DOI: 10.1080/0067270X.2015.1079378
J.C. Hollmann. 2015. Allusions to agriculturist rituals in hunter-gatherer rock art? eMkhobeni Shelter, northern Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. African Archaeological Review 32(3): 505-535. DOI 10.1007/s10437-015-9197-4.
J.C. Hollmann. 2014. ‘Geometric’ motifs in Khoe-San rock art: depictions of designs, decorations and ornaments in the Gestoptefontein-Driekuil Complex, North West Province, South Africa. Journal of African Archaeology 12(1): 25-42. DOI 10.3213/2191-5784-102**
J.C. Hollmann. 2013. Exploring the Gestoptefontein-Driekuil Complex (GDC): an ancient women’s ceremonial centre in North West Province, South Africa. South African Archaeological Bulletin 68(198): 146-159.
S. Challis, J.C. Hollmann & M. McGranaghan. 2013.‘Rain snakes’ from the Senqu River: new light on Qing’s commentary on San rock art from Sehonghong, Lesotho. Azania: DOI: 10.1080/0067270X.2013.797135.
J.C. Hollmann and K. Crause. 2011. Digital imaging and the revelation of ‘hidden’ rock art: Vaalekop Shelter, KwaZulu-Natal. Southern African Humanities 23: 55–76.
J.C. Hollmann and R. Burrett. 2009. New perspectives in the interpretation of South African rock engravings; the Emil Holub collection in the Náprstek Museum. Annals of the Náprstek Museum 30: 3–17.
J.C. Hollmann and L. Msimanga. 2008. ‘An extreme case’: the removal of rock art from uMhwabane (eBusingatha) rock art shelter, Bergville, KwaZulu-Natal. Southern African Humanities 20: 285–315.
J.C. Hollmann. 2007. ‘The Sky’s Things’: |xam Bushman ‘Astrological Mythology’ as recorded in the Bleek and Lloyd Manuscripts. African Skies 11: 8–11.
J.C. Hollmann. 2007. The ‘cutting edge’ of rock art: motifs and other markings on Driekuil Hill, North West Province, South Africa. Southern African Humanities 19: 123–151.
J.C. Hollmann. 2007. |Kaggen’s code: paintings of moths in southern African hunter-gatherer rock art. Southern African Humanities 19: 83–101.
J.C. Hollmann and J.D. Lewis-Williams. 2006. Species and supernatural potency: an unusual rock painting from the Motheo District, Free State Province, South Africa. South African Journal of Science 102: 509–512.
J.C. Hollmann. 2005. ‘Swift-People’: Therianthropes and bird symbolism in hunter-gatherer rock-paintings, Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa. South African Archaeological Society Goodwin Series 9: 12–24.
J.C. Hollmann. 2005. Using behavioural postures and morphology to identify hunter-gatherer rock paintings of therianthropes in the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa. South African Archaeological Bulletin 60: 84-95.
J.C. Hollmann and M.K. Hykkerud. 2004. Khoekhoen herder paintings in the Karoo: exciting new finds from South Africa. International Newsletter on Rock Art (INORA) 40: 7–15.
J.C. Hollmann. 2002. Natural models, ethology and San rock paintings: pilo-erection and depictions of bristles in south-eastern South Africa. South African Journal of Science 98: 563–567.
J.C. Hollmann. 2001. Big pictures: new insights into southern African San rock paintings and beliefs about ostriches. South African Archaeological Bulletin 56: 62–75.
J.C. Hollmann. 1993. Preliminary report on the Koebee rock paintings, western Cape Province, South Africa. South African Archaeological Bulletin 48: 16-25.
J.C. Hollmann. 1991. Rock art in the Koebee River Valley—a preliminary survey. Pictogram 4(1): 10-13.
In press
T. Forssman, M. Lotter, J. Parkington, J.C. Hollmann, J. Angel & W. Fourie. An introduction to the archaeology of the Polihali Dam area, Mokhotlong District, Lesotho.