Saharan rock art is a significant area of archaeological study focusing on artwork carved or painted on the natural rocks of the central Sahara desert. The rock art dates from numerous periods starting c. 12,000 years ago, and is significant because it shows the culture of ancient African societies.
Tassili n'Ajjer
Tibesti
Ennedi
Messak
Tadrart
Sabu-Jaddi
Adrar Plateau
Gilf Kebir
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Significant Saharan rock art locations
Manda Guéli Cave in the Ennedi Mountains, northeastern Chad
The paintings and carvings of the Sahara are endangered, and vulnerable rock art on uncovered rock has already disappeared. Organizations, such as the Trust for African Rock Art,[1] are researching and recording as much information about Saharan rock art as possible, while raising awareness of threats to the art itself.
Tibesti, Chad: Also known as Tibesti Massif or Tibesti Mountains located in central Sahara, extending from Niger and Libya. The mountains are volcanic and are approximately 300 miles (480 km) long and 175 miles (282 km) wide.[2] The rock art that exists in these mountains was created before dramatic climate change in the Saharan Desert caused the inhabitants to move towards the Nile Valley. Large animal engravings and other rock art dates to between 12,000 and 4,000 years ago.[3]
Ennedi, Chad: Next to the Tibesti Mountain chain is another mountain chain named Ennedi. Much of the rock art in this area is from the Horse Period, and was made in the last 2,000 years. Pastoral Period art was also shown here.[3]
Messak Settafet, Libya: Abundant rock art is found in this location, near a mountain chain in Libya. Art is made from engraving techniques such as grinding, pecking, and scratching. Outlines of animals are found in blackened sandstone.[4]
Tadrart Acacus, Libya: Near the sand dune of Murzuk, bordering Tassili n'Ajjer, exists 12,000 year old prehistoric rock art. It appears to reflect much of the same culture as the Tassili n'Ajjer rock art.[5]
Above,Rock carving depicting a lying antelope or gazelle, located at Tin Taghirt on the Tassili n’Ajjer. Below, same rock carving depicted on the reverse of a 1992 1000 Algerian dinar banknote.
Tassili n'Ajjer, Algeria: The cave paintings found at Tassili n'Ajjer, north of Tamanrasset, Algeria, and at other locations depict vivid scenes of everyday life in central North Africa between about 10,000 BP and 6,000 BP, in the Later Stone Age. There are over 15,000 individual pieces of artwork in Tassili n'Ajjer. The art includes paintings and engravings into the rock that depicts the culture of Africans up to 12,000 years ago. They were executed by a hunting people in the Capsian period between 5,000 and 3,900 BP who lived in a savanna region teeming with giant buffalo, elephant, rhinoceros, and hippopotamus, animals that no longer exist in the now-desert area. The site was founded by French anthropologist Henri Lhote 50 years ago, yet researchers are still discovering new artwork.[6]
Rock art from the Bubalus time period in Tin Taghirt
Large Wild Fauna Period (12,000 BP - 6000 BP):[8] Saharan hunter-gatherer societies first made rock art. These images included animals that then lived in the area, including hippos, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, bubalus, aurochs, and large antelopes. Many of those animals no longer exist in the Sahara due to changes in climate that have caused the desiccation of the desert over the past several thousand years. Humans are shown hunting with spears and axes. The artwork portrays not only hunting, but the relationship between humans and animals. Most of the artwork can be found in Tassili n'Ajjer, Algeria.[8]
Round Head Period (9500 BP - 7000 BP):[8] Hunter-gatherers on the Tassili Plateau painted distinctive human figures with round, featureless heads.
Pastoral Period (7200 BP - 3000 BP):[8] During this period, humans were depicted with domesticated cattle. Pictures show cultures herding animals and hunting as well, portrayed through men holding bows. Women and children are in camps where they lived. This style is shown around the Sahara with paintings and engravings. Herders eventually migrated to the west, east, and south as Saharan climates aridified.[8]
Horse Period (3200 BP - 1000 BP):[8] Humans are shown with horses during this period. Paintings and few engravings have men on horses with weapons, as well as horse-drawn chariots. The people are also dressed in clothing instead of no clothing at all.[8]
Camel Period (3000 BP - 2000 BP):[8] This is the final period of rock art in the Sahara, with images of camels appearing. Cattle and goats are frequently included in Camel Period art as well. Advanced weaponry is depicted, including pictures of men with spears, swords, and shields.[8]
^ ab"Rock Art of Chad - Trust for African Rock Art". Trust for African Rock Art. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
^Temehu.com. "The Rock Engravings of Messak Settafet & Mellet". www.temehu.com. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
^Temehu.com. "Tadrart Acacus (Akakus or Akakous)". www.temehu.com. Retrieved 2016-12-14.
^Coulson, David; Campbell, Alec. "Rock Art of the Tassili n'Ajjer, Algeria" (PDF). AfricanRockArt.org.
^"Prehistoric African Paintings and Engravings". Trust for African Rock Art. Retrieved 2016-11-02.
^ abcdefghiCoulson, David; Campbell, Alec. "Rock Art of the Tassili n'Ajjer, Algeria" (PDF). AfricanRockArt.org.
^Soukopova, Jitka (2017). "Central Saharan rock art: Considering the kettles and cupules". Journal of Arid Environments. 143: 10. Bibcode:2017JArEn.143...10S. doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2016.12.011.
^Soukopova, Jitka (Jan 16, 2013). Round Heads: The Earliest Rock Paintings in the Sahara. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 38. ISBN9781443845793.
December 15, 2023
saharan, rock, significant, area, archaeological, study, focusing, artwork, carved, painted, natural, rocks, central, sahara, desert, rock, dates, from, numerous, periods, starting, years, significant, because, shows, culture, ancient, african, societies, tass. Saharan rock art is a significant area of archaeological study focusing on artwork carved or painted on the natural rocks of the central Sahara desert The rock art dates from numerous periods starting c 12 000 years ago and is significant because it shows the culture of ancient African societies Tassili n AjjerTibestiEnnediMessakTadrartSabu JaddiAdrar PlateauGilf Kebirclass notpageimage Significant Saharan rock art locations Manda Gueli Cave in the Ennedi Mountains northeastern ChadThe paintings and carvings of the Sahara are endangered and vulnerable rock art on uncovered rock has already disappeared Organizations such as the Trust for African Rock Art 1 are researching and recording as much information about Saharan rock art as possible while raising awareness of threats to the art itself Contents 1 Archaeological sites 2 Research techniques 3 Rock art time periods 4 See also 5 ReferencesArchaeological sites editImportant regions and sites include Cave of Swimmers and Cave of Beasts caves area Gilf Kebir area Egypt Tibesti Chad Also known as Tibesti Massif or Tibesti Mountains located in central Sahara extending from Niger and Libya The mountains are volcanic and are approximately 300 miles 480 km long and 175 miles 282 km wide 2 The rock art that exists in these mountains was created before dramatic climate change in the Saharan Desert caused the inhabitants to move towards the Nile Valley Large animal engravings and other rock art dates to between 12 000 and 4 000 years ago 3 Ennedi Chad Next to the Tibesti Mountain chain is another mountain chain named Ennedi Much of the rock art in this area is from the Horse Period and was made in the last 2 000 years Pastoral Period art was also shown here 3 Messak Settafet Libya Abundant rock art is found in this location near a mountain chain in Libya Art is made from engraving techniques such as grinding pecking and scratching Outlines of animals are found in blackened sandstone 4 nbsp Neolithic cave paintings found in Tassili n Ajjer Plateau of the Chasms region of the SaharaTadrart Acacus Libya Near the sand dune of Murzuk bordering Tassili n Ajjer exists 12 000 year old prehistoric rock art It appears to reflect much of the same culture as the Tassili n Ajjer rock art 5 nbsp Above Rock carving depicting a lying antelope or gazelle located at Tin Taghirt on the Tassili n Ajjer Below same rock carving depicted on the reverse of a 1992 1000 Algerian dinar banknote Tassili n Ajjer Algeria The cave paintings found at Tassili n Ajjer north of Tamanrasset Algeria and at other locations depict vivid scenes of everyday life in central North Africa between about 10 000 BP and 6 000 BP in the Later Stone Age There are over 15 000 individual pieces of artwork in Tassili n Ajjer The art includes paintings and engravings into the rock that depicts the culture of Africans up to 12 000 years ago They were executed by a hunting people in the Capsian period between 5 000 and 3 900 BP who lived in a savanna region teeming with giant buffalo elephant rhinoceros and hippopotamus animals that no longer exist in the now desert area The site was founded by French anthropologist Henri Lhote 50 years ago yet researchers are still discovering new artwork 6 South Oran Algeria Djelfa Algeria Ahaggar Algeria Draa River Morocco Rock art of Figuig Morocco Air Mountains Niger Sabu Jaddi rock art site in Northern SudanResearch techniques editArchaeologists anthropologists and other researchers have been studying rock art to gain information about African cultures from the past Many photographs are taken of the art so it can be studied further Dating the art of the Sahara is made possible through radiometric dating of organic material including radiocarbon dating Organic artifacts found at the sites can be dated as can some residues on the rock art itself 7 Rock art time periods edit nbsp Rock art from the Bubalus time period in Tin TaghirtLarge Wild Fauna Period 12 000 BP 6000 BP 8 Saharan hunter gatherer societies first made rock art These images included animals that then lived in the area including hippos rhinos elephants giraffes bubalus aurochs and large antelopes Many of those animals no longer exist in the Sahara due to changes in climate that have caused the desiccation of the desert over the past several thousand years Humans are shown hunting with spears and axes The artwork portrays not only hunting but the relationship between humans and animals Most of the artwork can be found in Tassili n Ajjer Algeria 8 Kel Essuf Period 9800 BP 9 The Kel Essuf rock art tradition of engraving may have developed into the Round Head rock art tradition of painting 10 Round Head Period 9500 BP 7000 BP 8 Hunter gatherers on the Tassili Plateau painted distinctive human figures with round featureless heads Pastoral Period 7200 BP 3000 BP 8 During this period humans were depicted with domesticated cattle Pictures show cultures herding animals and hunting as well portrayed through men holding bows Women and children are in camps where they lived This style is shown around the Sahara with paintings and engravings Herders eventually migrated to the west east and south as Saharan climates aridified 8 Horse Period 3200 BP 1000 BP 8 Humans are shown with horses during this period Paintings and few engravings have men on horses with weapons as well as horse drawn chariots The people are also dressed in clothing instead of no clothing at all 8 Camel Period 3000 BP 2000 BP 8 This is the final period of rock art in the Sahara with images of camels appearing Cattle and goats are frequently included in Camel Period art as well Advanced weaponry is depicted including pictures of men with spears swords and shields 8 See also editRock art Prehistoric art List of Stone Age art Association des Amis de l Art Rupestre Saharien African humid periodReferences edit Trust for African Rock Art TARA Tibesti mountains Africa Encyclopaedia Britannica Retrieved 2016 12 12 a b Rock Art of Chad Trust for African Rock Art Trust for African Rock Art Retrieved 2016 12 14 Temehu com The Rock Engravings of Messak Settafet amp Mellet www temehu com Retrieved 2016 12 14 Temehu com Tadrart Acacus Akakus or Akakous www temehu com Retrieved 2016 12 14 Coulson David Campbell Alec Rock Art of the Tassili n Ajjer Algeria PDF AfricanRockArt org Prehistoric African Paintings and Engravings Trust for African Rock Art Retrieved 2016 11 02 a b c d e f g h i Coulson David Campbell Alec Rock Art of the Tassili n Ajjer Algeria PDF AfricanRockArt org Soukopova Jitka 2017 Central Saharan rock art Considering the kettles and cupules Journal of Arid Environments 143 10 Bibcode 2017JArEn 143 10S doi 10 1016 j jaridenv 2016 12 011 Soukopova Jitka Jan 16 2013 Round Heads The Earliest Rock Paintings in the Sahara Cambridge Scholars Publishing p 38 ISBN 9781443845793 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Saharan rock art amp oldid 1122440186, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
