I-San yizakhamuzi ezindala kakhulu ze-Afrika eseNingizimu, lapho zihlala okungenani iminyaka engu-20 000. I-San ithole ukunakekelwa kwe-anthropologists kanye nabezindaba ngamakhono abo okusinda nokuzingela, ingcebo yolwazi lwendabuko lwezitshalo nezilwane ze-Afrika yaseningizimu, kanye namasiko abo amasiko.
Inkolelo eyayisakazeke iminyaka eminingi yilapho iSan eKalahari Desert yaseBotswana neNamibia kwakuyizinzukulwana zabantu ababalekile abaxoshwa ezindaweni ezingcono kakhulu eziseNingizimu Afrika. Eqinisweni, ubufakazi bokuvubukulwa kwembula ukuthi iKalahari iye yahlala abazingeli-abaqoqi bezinkulungwane zeminyaka.
Lezi zizwe ziye zafundiswa kabanzi yi-anthropologists kanye nabavubukuli, befuna ukufanisana phakathi kwabazingeli abaqoqayo nabahlakho babo. Kodwa iSan ayikho 'imfuyo yezinto eziphilayo': njengabanye abantu abaguquka ngezimo. Abazingeli abaqoqayo baseKalahari banamanje izici eziningi zendlela yokuphila yasendulo, kodwa abangekho ezweni lanamuhla kanye nomnotho wezimali.