Reinhard Maack

Reinhard Maack (born on October, 2 1892 in Herford, Germany) is a German geographer, explorer and colonial administrator.

After having studied geography, Maack travalled in Südwestafrika (now part of Freistaat Mittelafrika) in 1911 and worked in geodesy there: having been captured by the British during the Weltkrieg, he managed to escape and to continue his works. He discovered 'The White Lady' rock painting in 1918. Maack was convinced that the art had distinct European style and this view was up-held by various prominent archaeologists of the day. 'The White Lady' has been controversially dated from 6000 to 20,000 years old. Discovered in Namibia, southern Africa, and supposedly of European (or as was more specifically speculated, Mediterranean origin). The controversial date meant that the whole theory of the "cradle of civilization" being in east or central Africa was thrown into chaos. After the war, Maack stayed in Africa, trying to prove his theories, and studying Native tribes and exploring the whole Dark Continent. He has been considered as a possible Vice-Statthalter to replace the aging Erich Schulz-Ewerth.