Rock art: 5 timeless masterpieces to explore
What's the story
African rock art provides a window into the continent's rich history and cultural heritage. The ancient artworks, etched or painted on rocks, offer a peek into the lives and beliefs of the early human societies. Thousands of years old, these masterpieces are dotted across Africa, each narrating a different story. From daily life depictions to spiritual symbols, African rock art is a testament to human creativity and resilience.
#1
The Tassili n'Ajjer paintings
Found in Algeria's Sahara Desert, the Tassili n'Ajjer paintings are more than 10,000 years old. The paintings depict scenes of hunting and dancing, giving an insight into the life of the early inhabitants. The intricate details of the paintings reveal a lot about their clothing and tools. This site is the most important collection of prehistoric art in Africa.
#2
The Drakensberg rock art
The Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa host a vast collection of rock paintings by the San people. Mostly depicting animals such as elands and humans in different activities, these artworks date back to about 3,000 years. They provide a glimpse of San spirituality and their relationship with nature.
#3
The Laas Geel cave paintings
Found in Somaliland, the Laas Geel cave paintings are one of Africa's best-preserved rock art sites. Believed to be around 5,000 to 11,000 years old, these colorful paintings depict scenes of cattle herding and ceremonial rituals. This site is especially striking due to the use of bright colors.
#4
The Kondoa Rock-Art Sites
Nestled in Tanzania's central region, the Kondoa Irangi Hills are dotted with several rock shelters, richly painted with ancient paintings. These artworks were made by hunter-gatherer communities thousands of years ago. The images vividly depict humans engaging with wildlife, along with abstract symbols. These symbols possibly depict spiritual beliefs or major occurrences of their day-to-day life, giving a unique peek into their worldviews and relationship with nature around them.
#5
The Dabous Giraffe engravings
Found near Agadez in Niger's Air Mountains, are two large giraffe engravings, carved onto sandstone slabs, dating back to around six thousand years ago during Neolithic times. When giraffes roamed freely over what is now desert land today, they stand as remarkable examples. Showcasing artistic skill combined with cultural importance within local communities, they employed visual storytelling techniques, effectively capturing the essence surrounding them then, too.