In 1951s, Italian and Libyan archaeologists went to the dried-up vally

in th Tassili-n-Ajjer ranges and the Tadrart-Acacus rages and there they

discouvered the picture rocks. These petoglyphs reveal that during wetter

and more humid times, animals such as giraffes and elephants roamed the

Sahara. After analysing over 300 petroglyphs, it was proved that they were

drawn between 12,000 B.C. and 50 B.C.

　　　　　Archaeologists divided thses petroglyphs into four periods.

1) the period of wild animal; elephants, rhinoceri, giraffes...

　　　12,000 B.C. - 8,000 B.C. 　　　　　The Sahara in this era was grassy savanna.

2) the period of hunting people

　　　7,000 B.C. - 4,000 B.C.　　　　　　 During this period, many petroglyphs of hunting scene in red and yellow colour

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　were discovered.


3) the period of cattle breeding

　　　4,000 B.C. - 500 B.C.　　　　　　　　Since this period, the climate has become dry. The fauna in savanna has

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　disappeared and then cows were drawn as a picture rock.

4) the period of hourses

　　　500 B.C. - 200 B.C.　　　　　　　　　　

　　　After (4), the period of camels continued. Around 200 B.C. camels were brought in Egypt from Persia and then

propagated in the Sahara. By this transition of petroglyphs, we can see how this region has changed and also how

people have lived in such a severe environment.

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