In 1845, British paleontologist Sir Richard Owen announced the discovery of a new species based on fossils uncovered in South Africa. From a single skull fragment, he named the creature Dicynodon—Latin for “two canine teeth”—and noted that the variation in size among specimens suggested a diverse clade.
While Owen’s announcement captured the scientific community, a cave painting by the San people of South Africa, dated to 1821–1835, appears to depict a dicynodont almost a decade earlier. This artwork provides evidence that indigenous hunters were recording paleontological finds long before European scientists began systematic excavations.
Dicynodonts belong to the therapsid group, the evolutionary lineage that eventually gave rise to modern mammals. Emerging around 270 million years ago in the Permian, they survived the End‑Permian mass extinction—the most severe of Earth’s five major extinctions—and continued into the Triassic, co‑existing with early dinosaurs.
Within the Dicynodon clade, more than 70 genera have been identified, ranging from the size of small rodents to the gigantic Lisowicia bojani of Poland, which rivaled modern elephants. Their distinctive beak and tusks mark them as herbivorous reptiles that played a pivotal role in their ecosystems.
The San painting features an animal with prominent tusks and a bumpy skin texture—both characteristic of dicynodont fossils. The depiction’s pose mirrors the “outstretched death” position observed in numerous dicynodont skeletons worldwide.
Located in the Karoo region, a hotspot for dicynodont fossils, the artwork suggests that San hunters were discovering and recording these ancient creatures well before European explorers began excavating the area. This insight challenges Eurocentric narratives of paleontological discovery and highlights the rich scientific knowledge embedded in indigenous cultures.
Julien Benoit’s recent study, published in PLOS One, argues that indigenous art can reveal untapped paleontological information, urging the scientific community to recognize and integrate these contributions.
Today, many San communities face socioeconomic hardships, and their cultural heritage is under threat. Acknowledging their early contributions to the understanding of Earth’s past not only honors their legacy but also enriches modern science with diverse perspectives.
