Preparing to leave on horse back
The intense study of early cave paintings has lead Stephen down another path, that of conservation and restoration. A major threat to rock paintings, apart from natural weathering, is damage caused by people and animals. He works closely with National Parks and Heritage Authorities in South Africa to make people aware of the importance of these fragile paintings and the role the art plays in the heritage of the region. He developed and modified various equipment, machinery and natural micro abrasive techniques to remove scratches, paint, charcoal etc. from vandalised sites.
