The south rockshelter preserves rock art and archaeological traces from the Later Stone Age. In the north shelter, archaeologists have recovered material dating to 105,000 years ago, including ostrich eggshell fragments, stone tools, and a cache of calcite crystals.
Today Ga-Mohana Hill holds profound cultural significance for the local community. While this cultural heritage endures, its prominence has been diminishing due to various sociopolitical factors. One of us, Sechaba Maape, grew up in the area and has actively worked to restore Ga-Mohana as a meaningful place from a cultural perspective. Reflecting on his youth, Maape recounts Traditional Stories of Noga ya Metsi, the Great Snake, residing in the rockshelters and engaging in abductions and supernatural activities that unsettled the community.
These narratives contributed to the places acquiring a frightening reputation. Interestingly, the secrecy surrounding the locations dissuades many in the community from visiting them, though the sites have been used for various initiation rituals. And today, the landscapes at Ga-Mohana Hill are used by church groups and other community members for spiritual communion and prayer sessions. Traditional healers and tourists also visit Ga-Mohana.
These multiple uses and its rich archaeological heritage mean that Ga-Mohana is a place of deep meaning and can be considered a living heritage site. We therefore wanted to create an online, interactive 3D digital replica that represented its multiple uses. Ultimately, our aim was to manifest the potency that this place holds within the 3D model rather than merely representing its archaeological and scientific value.
A NEW APPROACH TO 3D MODELS
Our approach was to focus on three elements: first, the agency that this place holds—the ability to act upon people to give and receive meaning; second, the proximity the 3D model gives to the physical site and to past and present people and their cultures; and third, the multivocal nature of the site—that is, telling the different stories of this place so all relevant voices can be heard.
To achieve this, we conducted a 3D scan of Ga-Mohana Hill and its shelters by acquiring photogrammetric images by drone and hand-held cameras. The images were processed to produce an optimized 3D model suitable for web-based applications. The 3D model was then augmented with a number of visual devices, along with customized text in the form of rotating signboards.
