Sahara rock art is a significant field of archeology that focuses on artwork carved or painted on natural rocks in the central Sahara desert. The art of rock comes from various periods starting c. 12,000 years ago, and this is important because it shows the culture of ancient African society.
The paintings and the Sahara carvings are endangered, and the vulnerable rock art on an uncovered stone has been lost. Organizations such as Trust for African Rock Art are researching and recording as much information about Sahara's rock art, while raising awareness of the threat to the art itself.
Video Saharan rock art
Archaeological Sites
Areas and key sites include:
- Swim and Cave Caves from Caves, Gilf Kebir area, Egypt
- Tibesti, Chad: Also known as the Tibesti Massif or Tibesti Mountains located in the center of the Sahara, stretching from Niger and Libya. Volcanic mountains and about 300 miles long and 175 miles wide. This rock art in the mountains was created before dramatic climate change in the Sahara Desert caused the population to move towards the Nile Valley. Large animal carvings and other rock art dates between 12,000 and 4,000 years ago.
- Ennedi, Chad: Next to the chain of Mount Tibesti there is another mountain chain called Ennedi. Most of the rock art in this area comes from the Horse Period, and was made in the last 2,000 years. The Art of the Pastoral Period is also shown here.
- Messak Settafet, Libya: Abundant stone art is found at this location, near the mountain chain in Libya. Art is made from carving techniques such as grinding, pecking, and scratching. An outline of animals found in blackened sandstone.
- Tadrart Acacus, Libya: Near the Murzuk dunes, bordering Tassili n'Ajjer, there is a 12,000-year-old prehistoric stone art. It seems to reflect much of the same culture as the Tassili n'Ajjer stone art.
- Tassili n'Ajjer, Algeria: The cave paintings found in Tassili n'Ajjer, north of Tamanrasset, Algeria, and elsewhere illustrate the daily life scenes that live in north-central Africa between about 10,000 BP and 6,000 BP, in the Later Stone Age. There are more than 15,000 individual artworks in Tassili n'Ajjer. This art includes paintings and carvings to stone depicting African culture up to 12,000 years ago. They were executed by hunters in the Capsian period between 5,000 and 3,900 BP who lived in savanna areas full of giant buffalo, elephants, rhinoceros and hippos, animals that no longer exist in desert areas now. The site was founded by French anthropologist Henri Lhote 50 years ago, but researchers are still discovering new artwork.
- South Oran, Algeria
- Djelfa, Algeria
- Ahaggar, Algeria
- Draa River, Morocco
- Figuig stone art, Morocco
- AÃÆ'¯r Mountains, Niger
- Sabu-Jaddi rock art site in North Sudan
Maps Saharan rock art
Research techniques
Archaeologists, anthropologists, and other researchers have studied rock art to gain insight into African culture from the past. Many photos are taken from the art so that they can be learned more. Saharan art dating is possible through the radiometric dating of organic matter, including radiocarbon dating. Organic artifacts found on the site can be dated, as are some residues on the art of the rock itself.
Art time period
- Big Wild Fauna Period (Bubalus Period) (12,000 BP - 6,000 BP) This is a time when the Sahara hunter-gatherers make rock art. These images include animals being hunted or in the surrounding area, including hippos, rhinoceros, giraffe elephants, bubalus, auroch, and large antelope. Many of these animals are no longer in the Sahara because of the climate change that has led to desert drainage over the last few thousand years. Humans are shown hunting with spears and axes. Artwork depicts not only hunting, but the relationship between humans and animals. Most of the artwork can be found in Tassili n'Ajjer, Algeria.
- Round Head Period (9,500 - c 7,000 BP) Hunter-gatherers at Tassili Plateau paint different human figures with unobtrusive round heads.
- Pastoral Period (7,200 BP-3,000 BP) During this period, humans are depicted with domesticated animals. The images show animal herding culture and hunting as well, illustrated through men holding bows. Women and children are in the camp where they live. This style is displayed around the Sahara with paintings and carvings. The shepherds eventually migrated to the west, east, and south as the Sahara aridified climate.
- Horse Period (3,200 - c.1,000 BP) Humans are shown with horses during this period. Paintings and some carvings have men on horses with guns, as well as horse-drawn carriages. People also wear clothes instead of clothes at all.
- Camel Period (3,000 - 2,000 BP and then) This is the last period of rock art in the Sahara, with a picture of a camel appearing. Cattle and goats are often included in the Camel Period art as well. Sophisticated weapons are depicted, including images of men with spears, swords, and shields.
See also
- Stone art
- Prehistoric art
- List of the Stone Age art
- Association des Amis de l'Art Rupestre Saharien
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
0 Comments