In the Drakensberg mountains of South Africa, researchers have found 4,000-year-old ochre-inscribed bone rattles within a sheltered rock site. The rattles, crafted from the humerus bones of large eland, were likely used in "Rain-Calling" solstice festivals performed by San ancestors.
The engravings on the bone match motifs found in nearby rock art, depicting communal trance dances and meteorological spirits. This find offers a rare tactile connection to the ancient soundscapes of Southern African ritual life, confirming the long-term continuity of seasonal gathering traditions in the region.