Decorated Ostrich Eggshells

Decorated ostrich eggs are among Namibia’s oldest forms of symbolic expression, with engraved fragments dating back tens of thousands of years. These objects offer rare insight into the artistic, ritual and social practices of early hunter-gatherers who lived across southern Africa.

Ostrich eggshell was widely used by prehistoric communities for both practical and symbolic purposes.

Decorated fragments found in Namibia typically feature:

• Geometric engravings (cross-hatching, parallel lines, grids)
• Dotted patterns
• Bands and linear motifs
• Occasional repeated symbols that may have served as group identifiers

Many researchers believe these engravings functioned as early systems of symbolic communication, possibly representing ownership marks, clan affiliations, or ritual motifs.

Decorated eggshells in Namibia appear in several forms:

• Beads — small discs drilled and strung as necklaces or ornaments
• Containers — whole shells hollowed out to hold water, often engraved
• Fragments — pieces showing decorative markings, sometimes found near hearths
• Possible “message objects” carried across social networks

Ostrich eggshell water containers are especially notable: each could hold 1 litre of water and was essential for long-distance travel across arid environments.

Decorated ostrich eggshell fragments have been found throughout Namibia, especially in:

• Erongo Mountains
• Brandberg shelters
• Huab & Ugab river terraces
• ǁAi-/Ais Richtersveld region
• Open desert pavements where ancient campsites have been exposed

Several excavated sites exhibit large concentrations of beads alongside stone tools and ochre, indicating socially complex communities with elaborate ornamentation traditions.

Radiocarbon and stratigraphic evidence place the decorated ostrich eggshell in Namibia within the Later Stone Age, commonly dated to be 10,000–2,000 years old, although some pieces may be older.

The engravings demonstrate that Namibian hunter-gatherers participated in a widespread southern African tradition of personal ornamentation, long-distance exchange and symbolic marking.

Studies suggest that ostrich eggshell beads were exchanged over hundreds of kilometres, forming one of Africa’s earliest evidence of social networks.

Because eggshells are fragile, fragments are often found broken, but engravings remain visible. Whole engraved containers are extremely rare.

All decorated ostrich eggshell artefacts are protected under Namibian heritage law and may not be removed or collected.

Most decorated ostrich eggshells are held in museum collections, including the National Museum of Namibia in Windhoek. While they are not typically available for viewing at open archaeological sites, guided walks in the Erongo or Brandberg sometimes include discussions of how beads and engraved fragments were used.

Replicas and interpretive displays can occasionally be seen at lodges or community heritage centres in Damaraland and Erongo.