Heritage Cases

Application is made for the temporary export of one painted stone in the collection of the Rock Art Research Institute, University of the Witwatersrand (RARI), to the Perot Museum, United States of America for inclusion in a temporary exhibition. The Perot Museum approached the RARI to loan the object. After due consideration, the RARI and University has agreed to the loan, conditional on the issue of a temporary export permit by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA). The request to loan objects and the RARI’s agreement to the loan are in line with the agreement entered into between the University of the Witwatersrand and the Perot Museum. The objects RP/2005/002 is a roughly rectangular block of sandstone approximately 700 x 300 x 200 mm in maximum dimensions. The paintings on the stone depicts an eland antelope and a rhebuck. The stone is illustrated and full details provided in other parts of this application. The exhibition The Perot Museum is preparing a major exhibition about South Africa entitled ‘Origins: Fossils from the Cradle of Humankind’. The exhibition will take place between 19 October 2019 and 22 March 2020. The exhibition seeks to highlight human origins and archaeology in South Africa. A detailed outline of the proposed exhibition is attached to this application. Motivation The Perot Museum of Nature and Science (shortened to Perot Museum) is a natural history and science museum located in Dallas, Texas, USA. A major international exhibition on South African archaeology at such an institution can only be of benefit to South Africa. The inclusion of indigenous rock art in the exhibition is fully supported, not only because it highlights one of South Africa’s premier cultural treasures, but also because these objects are amongst very few that illustrate an indigenous perspective on the past. Loan period It is requested to loan the two objects to the Perot Museum between 10 October 2019 and 31 March 2020. A temporary export permit for these dates is requested. Methodology (short): The painted rock will be securely packed and crated in RARI and transported by air freight to Dallas, USA, by fine art movers. The object will be accompanied by a member of RARI staff, probably the Director. A similar process will be followed in returning the object. A comprehensive condition assessment will be undertaken before the object leaves RARI, when it arrives in Dallas, when it departs Dallas, and when it arrives back in Johannesburg.