Photo Gallery

View from the site 4th - Giraffes in a stiff, decadent style were carved into the rock. The largest giraffe measures 1.05 m in height. - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1967

This dromedary with herringbone tail is harnessed in a logical way, which is not the case with the "frame", in which a person sits without legs, but who has a leather cushion in front of him. The "frame" is 0.16 m high and 0.23 m wide. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - Ouan Bender - 1993

Hands in negative form. They are moving because they represent the sign of a person who placed them on the rock with a wish. Was it fulfilled? Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - Jabbaren - 1993

Running archer. He is dressed in a coloured loincloth. His appearance is negroid. The head resembles that of a praying mantis. The right hand raises a bow and an arrow above the head. The hand of the arm stretched forward is empty. The loincloth is white with mauve tinting, the rest of the body is painted with red ochre. From the back foot to the top of the head: 0.17 m. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - In-Aouanrhet - 1993

2 - Oued Djérat (Tassili-n'Ajjer) – Spirals with the same direction of winding. This type of engraving is common and generally seen as a symbol of fertility. Radius of the large spiral: 0.36 m. Radius of the small sphere: 0.085 m.

2 - Oued Djérat (Tassili-n'Ajjer) – (original photo) Spirals with the same direction of winding. This type of engraving is common and generally seen as a symbol of fertility. Radius of the large spiral: 0.36 m. Radius of the small sphere: 0.085 m.

7 - Oued Djérat (Tassili-n'Ajjer) – Triple spiral. In contrast to the spiral in photo 2, the elegance of this engraving stands out. The two figures at the bottom result from two lines that start at their center and move in opposite directions. The work was done on a horizontal slab.

38 - Tagueït high (Aïr). – This giraffe fresco, remarkable for the work of punctuating and line engraving it required, does not date from the same period as the two figures, one of which is an archer leading the herd, and which seem much later. The main animals measure between 0.60 m and 0.80 m. The rock itself is 2.40 m long.

Maximilien Bruggmann photographing the giraffe fresco in Tagueït.

47 - Tanakom (Aïr). - Pastoral period. Various quadrupeds. The interest lies in the two figures in the center. The one on the left would fit well in a modern art museum and does not allow for any satisfactory explanation. The one on the right may be holding a bow.

An overview of the two previous photos.

80 - Drigana. Djado Region. - (original photo) Rhinoceros overlapping an elephant. Old engraving. From the tail tip to the horn tip: 1.56 m.

81 - Drigana. Djado Region. - On a rock bordering a reg, once a prime area for elephant movement, this magnificent Neolithic fresco of 4 naturalistic elephants. The rock measures 4.25 m in width. In the same position, facing the Ténéré plateau, and 300 m from the first ones, three other elephants in the same style. Width of the supporting rock: 4.10 m. (82)

124 - Enneri Blaka. Site 11. - Triangular figure from the Garamantic period. Engraving by pecking. The subject has a graceful posture and measures 0.64 meters from the feet to the tip of the feather on its head.

124 - Enneri Blaka. Site 11. - (original photo) Triangular figure from the Garamantic period. Engraving by pecking. The subject has a graceful posture and measures 0.64 meters from the feet to the tip of the feather on its head.

125 - Enneri Blaka. Site 11. - Garamantic period. Two triangular figures with U-shaped heads. Fine engraving. The right arm of the right figure crosses the left arm of the left figure, which measures 0.225 meters in height.

170 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - Small archer of indeterminate age. He wears "shorts," which is not entirely rare. A piece of leather or fabric (?) hangs between his legs, and the left shoulder's design, dominated by a crook, is difficult to explain. Height: 0.40 m.

170 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - (original photo) Small archer of indeterminate age. He wears "shorts," which is not entirely rare. A piece of leather or fabric (?) hangs between his legs, and the left shoulder's design, dominated by a crook, is difficult to explain. Height: 0.40 m.

325 - Aouanrhet (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Archer running. He is wearing a colored loincloth. His appearance is Negroid. The head resembles that of a praying mantis. The right hand lifts a bow and an arrow above the head. The hand of the extended arm forward is empty. The loincloth is white with a tinge of purple, and the rest of the body is painted with red ochre. From the rear foot to the top of the head: 0.17 m.

366 - Oued Djérat (Tassili-n'Ajjer, confluence of the Wadi Touloult) – When one realizes that the spirals, like the rhinoceros, were engraved using only stone flakes, one can only admire the two triple spirals and the rhinoceros at the bottom, on the left thigh of which a clumsy artist tried to replicate the same masterpiece. There are also more spirals at the top.

The T4 mission team in front of the engravings of the spirals in the Oued Djérat (Tassili-n'Ajjer). From the left: a Touareg, Edouard Bois de Chesne, commissioned by television to make a five-part film series about the Sahara, Mrs Eva Bruggmann, Pascal Pol, Sylvio Acatos, journalist, and Maximilien Bruggmann, head of Mission T4.

394 - Oued Djérat (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Modern "camel" (Camelus dromedarius) as seen by the inhabitants of the Sahara.

394 - Oued Djérat (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - (original photo) Modern "camel" (Camelus dromedarius) as seen by the inhabitants of the Sahara.

395 - Oued Djérat (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Tuareg warriors. The armament of the descendants of Berber immigrants was formidable: spear, javelin, sword known as "takouba", arm dagger, antelope skin shield.

636 - Bardaï (Tibesti). - Very schematic but clearly identifiable cheetah, drawn by Maximilien Bruggmann from his photograph.

636 - Bardaï (Tibesti). - (original photo) Very schematic but clearly identifiable cheetah, drawn by Maximilien Bruggmann from his photograph.

637 - Bardaï (Tibesti). - Drawing by Maximilien Bruggmann representing six figures from a fresco that contains eighteen in total, spanning 1.55 m in length. Each figure measures about 0.20 m in height. It may depict a dance scene. Each individual wears a feather, sometimes two, on their head. It is unclear if they are dressed, as their visible genitalia suggest otherwise. However, it is likely not ithyphallicism.

637 - Bardaï (Tibesti). - (original photo) Drawing by Maximilien Bruggmann representing six figures from a fresco that contains eighteen in total, spanning 1.55 m in length. Each figure measures about 0.20 m in height. It may depict a dance scene. Each individual wears a feather, sometimes two, on their head. It is unclear if they are dressed, as their visible genitalia suggest otherwise. However, it is likely not ithyphallicism.