There is a photo taken by flickr member Eric Lafforgue which shows an African man of the Bodi tribe, (Ethiopia), preparing to defend his ancestral land with traditional weapons, (a stick and a shield), against modern incursion backed by his government, (which is supported by mine as part of the "War on Terror") . The Ethiopian government means to take those lands and lease them to a foreign company for 1 euro per hectare per year to grow (i believe) sugar cane . As troops have already fired upon, (and killed), natives in the area, what we may be looking at is a photo of a doomed man.
Here is a link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/7821617902
What is of interest to me, beyond the drama, is the design of his shield. It very closely resembles the plan of a Bell Barrow, (familiar in the British landscape). Wikipedia has a page on these saying that daggers are a common find within, possibly indicating that this was a traditional burial form for a brave Bronze-Age warrior. I note in particular the roundish exposed spot of the lashing holding the shield to its handle, (facing the viewer), for its similarity to an entrance.
My belief is that there is a good chance European Stone Age traditions had (recognizable) roots in an African Urkultur, thus the study of traditional African practices may shed light upon this milieu. I have not heard of Bell Barrows in Africa, so i accept their practices were likely to have been different in this respect ... however, this shield may be of a classic and well traveled Stone Age design, in use in both places into the Bronze Age, (and it would seem beyond), which the culture as it evolved in the Isles decided to apply to burial practices for its symbolism and what magic may have been believed associated with it.
This post is based upon one i made as 'Anew' to the 'Alternative Theories' forum of the site stonepages.com.
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