Photo Gallery

Wadi Mathendous. In Habeter III - On the edge of the Mathendous river valley, you will find this cliff with very beautiful naturalistic engravings from the Bubalin period depicting giraffes and an elephant. The fractures in the rock are sometimes recent. They then damage the figures. Sometimes they are old and the artist has taken them into account. Height of the giraffe from the hooves to the end of the horn: 2.25 m. - Libya - 1969

Detail from the previous photo. Engravings from the cattle age, but very difficult to read. The anatomical accuracy here is extremely remarkable. Five cattle are identified. Algeria - Tadrart - El Beridij - 1993

19 - Oued Tafidet (Aïr). - Giraffes from the so-called Pastoral Period. Compare with other schematic giraffes from the Horse Period found at Tagueït bas. Height of the left giraffe: 1 m.

21 - Tagueït bas (Aïr). - Pastoral Period? It is difficult to associate these giraffes with those from Oued Tafidet: their attribution to one style or another is difficult.

24 - Tagueït bas (Aïr). - End of the Pastoral Period. Five highly stylized giraffes. From the head to the base of the legs of the largest giraffe: 0.95 m.

25 - Tagueït bas (Aïr). - Pastoral period. In the Sahel, near domesticated cattle, giraffes are not rare. Their abundance should therefore not be surprising. Remember the crumbly nature of the rocks in the Air mountains. Height of the large giraffe: 0.65 m.

44 - Tanakom (Aïr). – Herd of bovines led by a shepherd. On the side, one animal is ridden, another followed by a shepherd. Work from the late pastoral period. The slab is 2.15 m long.

45 - Tanakom (Aïr). - From the same period: giraffes, ostrich, shepherd touching a bovine. The engravers were interested in all smooth surfaces.

46 - Tanakom (Aïr). - Still giraffes. Their number can be explained either by the engravers' interest or by their diversity. These are very well observed. Slab height: 0.45 m.

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.

48 - Tanakom (Aïr). - Decadent giraffes. The largest measures 0.85 m in height.

69 - Temet (Aïr). - Very decadent engravings depicting two equid-like figures with strongly emphasized eyes. Bovids (?). From the snout of the one on the right to the tail of the one following: 1.05 m.

87 - View of Enneri Blaka. - As we reached the edge of the cliffs with a view of Enneri, we had the impression that a command post of a submarine was emerging from the sand. The name has remained... and the illusion is striking (see the photo by Maximilien Bruggmann illustrating the beginning of the Djado chapter). The site itself was discovered in 1956 by the Méharist officers Lamothe and Moreau. In 1959, the Berliet-Ténéré mission added sites 2 and 3. The Bruggmann mission completed the inventory in 1967 with the discovery of site 4. Then, at the end of 1968, during the research of the Blaka mission, also led by Maximilien Bruggmann, other very interesting sites were found, which were assigned the numbers 5 to 11. On the west face of the "submarine," there is a remarkable giraffe engraving from the old layer (Neolithic or Bubaline), captured in motion. Height of this giraffe: 0.70 meters. Site 1.

94 - Enneri Blaka. Site 1. - Bubal period. Leaping Dorcas gazelles. Beautiful, deeply engraved drawing on a horizontal slab, to the north of the "Sous-marin". The animal in the center of the photo measures 0.26 m in length.

95 - Enneri Blaka. Site 1. - Rhinoceros from the so-called Bubal period. The document is overlaid with a more recent puncture. From the snout to the end of the tail: 0.36 m.

96 - Enneri Blaka. Site 2. - Drawing of a very decadent ox, based on a photograph by Maximilien Bruggmann. From the tail to the horn tip: 0.53 m.

97 - Enneri Blaka. Site 2. - (original photo) Rhinoceros from the ancient period, engraved with shallow lines. From the tip of the horn to the back of the hind foot: 0.40 m.

98 - Enneri Blaka. Site 2. - Naturalistic elephant, engraved with shallow lines, resembling the style of the previous rhinoceros in the photograph (same artist?). From the end of the trunk to the base of the tail: 0.44 m.

101 - Enneri Blaka. Site 3. - Elephant engraved on a defective rock. Period of the so-called "Bubale" era. From the base of the hind leg to the end of the tusks: 0.60 m.

103 - Enneri Blaka. Site 3. - Period of the "Bubale". A very beautiful giraffe created with lines and internal polishing of the legs. The legs are precise, the curve, and the head well observed. Behind the animal, another smaller giraffe could indicate that the larger one is a nursing female. However, the styles appear different. The engraving of the large giraffe overlaps a small stippled bovine, therefore earlier. From the giraffe’s hooves to the top of its horns: 2.45 m.

105 - Enneri Blaka. Site 4. - Large naturalistic elephant. Period of the "Bubale". The over-engraving of the three giraffes is much later. Their style is also schematic. From the tips of the elephant's tusks to the end of the tail: 1.80 m long.

Maximilien Bruggmann and Sylvio Acatos taking the inventory of the large elephant at Site 4 of Enneri Blaka.

107 - Enneri Blaka. Site 5. - Period of the "Bubale". Small ungulate engraved with deep lines. Note the ends of the legs. This disproportion is found in many regions, especially the Rio de Oro. From the tips of the horns to the hooves: 0.225 m.

108 - Enneri Blaka. Site 5. - Period of the "Bubale". Two very beautiful giraffes, with well-engraved lines emphasizing their elegance. This depiction and the previous one (photo 107) are flat on the floor of the Neolithic shelter. At the top left, sandal prints can be seen, like those found by the thousands across the Sahara, especially in Tiratimine (Hoggar). These are a love wish specific to the Tuareg people. From the giraffe's hooves to the base of its horns: 0.95 m.

109 - Enneri Blaka. Site 5. - Still on the same stone slab of the rock shelter, from the "bubale" period, a schematic rhinoceros that fits well with the local style and the difficulty of properly capturing the anatomy of this animal. The legs also end in a "tapered" shape, which had already struck G.B.M. Flamand in 1921. From the tip of the horn to the back leg: 0.54 m.

110 - Enneri Blaka. Site 7. - Recent pastoral period. On a nearly vertical slab, an extraordinary grouping of cattle led Maximilien Bruggmann, the discoverer of the site, and his team to name it the "Ark of Noah." A mix of bovids, giraffes, hunters, and ungulates can be identified. The estimated number of subjects is 150! Width of the depicted panel: 1.75 m.

111 - Enneri Blaka. Site 7, known as the "Ark of Noah." - Detail of the fresco above: male bovid obtained by pecking, like most of the representations. The tail ends in a "broom." It is preceded by an animal with lyre-shaped horns (bovid?). From the tail to the tips of the horns: 0.91 m in length.

113 - Enneri Blaka. Site 8. - "Bubale" period. The engraving is difficult to interpret due to the arrangement of the hind legs. From the snout to the rump: 0.43 m.

116 - Enneri Blaka. Site 10. - Engravings by pecking. End of the pastoral period. Giraffes, bovids, ungulates. The depicted panel is 2.20 m wide.

117 - Enneri Blaka. Site 10. - The shelter, seen from the inside, measures 9.60 meters in width. At the far end, behind the mountains, is the "Submarine of Blaka." On the ceiling, a red/pink elephant can be observed; additionally, one can spot bovids, a mounted animal... Sites 7 and 9 are located on the opposite cliffs.

118 - Enneri Blaka. Site 10. - Near the site, a small hunter created by pecking. Late period. The bow is held in the right hand. On the left elbow, there may be a small shield. See the equid-era figure from Aïr, photograph 23, which carries the same object.

119 - Enneri Blaka. Site 10. - Pastoral period (?). This fresco decorates the ceiling of the rock shelter at Site 10. It primarily depicts bovids and human figures. Two of them are mounted on an ox. The width of the depicted ceiling section is 2.05 meters.

121 - Enneri Blaka. Site 10. - Another view of the ceiling painted in the pastoral period. The presence of a large herd of bovids does not exclude wild animals such as the elephant, which appears here in a red color. The bovids are white. An ox is ridden by a figure, which seems (?) to guide it with a rope. The elephant measures 0.41 meters in length.

122 - Enneri Blaka. Site 10. - A mounted, white ox. The painting style is very homogeneous. Notice the feather on the rider's headdress. From the tip of the tail to the snout: 0.225 meters.

123 - Enneri Blaka. Site 11 (2.7 km south of the "Submarine"). - Fresco of giraffes engraved from the "bubale" period. The coats are depicted using different pecking techniques.

126 - Enneri Blaka. Site 11. - On top of an engraved giraffe are two (?) unidentified quadrupeds. A man stands at the back and touches the tail of one of them.

131 - Confluent Blaka-Domo. Site 12. - Bubaline Era. Rhino engraved with fine and regular lines. It is preceded by a smaller rhino. At the top right, two hanging parts of “loincloths” (?). Large rhino, from the tip of the tail to the tip of the horn: 0.51 m.

132 - Confluent Blaka-Domo. Site 12. - Bubaline Era. Elephant engraved with fine lines. Between its legs is the rhino from photo 131. The fact that the rocks here are flat and provide horizontal surfaces attracted artists who did not hesitate to superimpose their works on those of their predecessors. At the height of the elephant's rump, a vulvar symbol (?). The panel portion measures 2.65 m in length.

133 - Confluent Blaka-Domo. Site 12. - Bubaline Era. Extraordinary bovine with oversized horns. Several central parts of loincloths. Vulvar sign, hooves... The surface depicted measures 1.17 m in height.

134 - Confluent Blaka-Domo. Site 12. - Bubaline Era. Beautiful cow engraved. The color differences in the coat are represented by lines separating the areas.

135 - Confluent Blaka-Domo. Site 12. - Bubaline Era. Engraved elephant. One of the two lines delimiting the back is an abandoned sketch; dotted vulvar sign. Width of the depicted panel: 0.66 m.

137 - Confluent Blaka-Domo. Site 12. - Confronted rhinoceroses from the Bubaline period. From the tip of one tail to the other: 0.665 m.

138 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - As at Enneri Blaka, there are cliffs along the edges of river valleys. Very beautiful naturalistic engravings from the Bubaline period depicting giraffes and an elephant. The cracks in the rock are sometimes recent, which damages the depictions. Sometimes they are old, and the artist took this into account. Height of the giraffe, from the hooves to the tips of the horns: 2.25 m.

139 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - Enlarged detail of the previous engraving.

140 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - Giraffes engraved with continuous, regular, and deep lines. Bubaline period. A smaller, unfinished giraffe precedes them on the right. At the top left: recently etched bovine.

141 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - Bubaline period. The antelope in the center has a polished inner surface. A head appears below its neck. The antelope on the left, turned to the right, aligns with another animal turned to the left by the middle of its belly. This "monster" had already been seen by Frobenius. The ungulate in the center is 0.45 m in length.

142 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - Bubaline period. As Frobenius described and published it in 1937, this scene is discussed in the chapter "The History of a False Idea: Sex and the Desert." Note the very modern appearance of the costumes.

142 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - (original photo) Bubaline period. As Frobenius described and published it in 1937, this scene is discussed in the chapter "The History of a False Idea: Sex and the Desert." Note the very modern appearance of the costumes.

143 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - Bubaline period. The original engraving used as the model for L. Frobenius' drawing. Width of the panel shown in Maximilien Bruggmann's photo: 1.90 m.

145 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - The famous scene of the monkeys, here all visible. Bubaline period. The three animals in the upper part have their inner body polished. The one depicted below is simply etched with lines. From the bottom of the lower animal's legs to the ears of the right animal: 1.90 m.

149 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter II. - Period of the "bubale". A large figure with an animal head and a tail is in a variation of the "Bès position". This ithyphallic figure is accompanied by a smaller replica placed to the right. The magical character of this scene is likely linked to fertility invocations, at a time when the Sahara was already threatened by drought. Note the beautiful ostrich at the center right. From the right foot to the tip of the ear: 1.08 m.

150 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - Period of the "bubale". A large giraffe, appearing massive but with precise anatomy. Engraving with deep and regular strokes. Below, a very schematic ostrich, perhaps later. Its presumed head is adjacent to a depiction of a trap. The circle above might be a representation of a jellyfish. The "trap" has a diameter of 0.63 m.

151 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - Two bovids with forward-facing horns. Above, another trap with a diameter of 0.56 m.

152 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - Period of the "bubale". The famous crocodile with a tail measuring 2.25 m in length! The depiction of the dermal plates was made with deep lines. Note the Tifinar inscriptions in the top right.

The Equipe Mission Blaka in front of the famous tail crocodile with a length of 2.25 m in the Wadi Mathendous: Philippe Roulet, Jean-Claude Bourgeon, Eva Bruggmann, Zoumri, Jean Garzoni, Maximilien Bruggmann  - Libya - 1969

153 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - Period of the "bubale". A very beautiful engraving of a bovid with hanging horns. Note the depth of the lines and the cracks in the rock formed after the engraving. Length from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail: 0.72 m.

159 - Oued Mathendous. ln Habeter III. - Two giraffes and two bovids engraved on a vertical rocky surface at the edge of the Oued. From the lowest legs of the large bovine to the head of the giraffes: 1.32 m.

160 - Oued Mathendous. ln Galgien. - Bovid. Bovid period. Notice the line between the horns, which are represented along the axis of the spine. From the tip of the tail to the muzzle: 0.73 m.

161 - Oued Mathendous. ln Habeter II. - Male bovid (?) with crescent-shaped horns. From the top of the horn to the hooves: 0.35 m.

163 - Oued Mathendous. ln Habeter III. - The "sad cow" (!), anatomically correct, with well-marked nostrils.

164 - Oued Mathendous. ln Habeter II. - Ox with lyre-shaped horns.

166 - Oued Mathendous. ln Galgien. - Two giraffes with traces of internal polishing. The second animal is accompanied by a calf.

167 - Oued Mathendous. ln Habeter III. - The giraffes, whose detail is shown in photo 165. Height of the giraffe from the neck to the hoof: 1 m.

168 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - Giraffe drinking. This representation is very rare. The front legs are spread apart.

169 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter II. - Period of the "bubale." Large elephant. The nature of the rock has caused significant erosion, making the engraving at the head difficult to read. The decoration of the trunk and ears shows an interesting aesthetic pursuit. From the tip of the tail to the front leg: 1.20 m.

171 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - Period of the "bubale." Elephant lifting (?) a man with its trunk. Block width: 1.40 m.

179 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter II. - Bubaline period. In fact, the designation *Bubalus antiquus* Duv. was initially abandoned in favor of *Omoïoceras antiquus* Duv., eventually leading to *Pelorouis antiquus* Duv. This bovine with monumental horns is contemporary with the Neolithic and disappears with it. This specimen has two tails. A large bird is engraved between the horns, which are spread 0.72 m apart at their tips.

180 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter II. - Three giraffes, including one calf. The coat is depicted with scalariform patterns. The giraffe on the right measures 1.08 m from hoof to the tips of the horns.

181 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter II. - A magnificent bull engraved with deep, regular lines. The tops of the horns are marked with two lines, themselves topped by a disc, in which some see an Egyptian influence, though this is not certain. From the tip of the snout to the end of the tail: 0.60 m in length.

186 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - Bubaline period. Ostriches in a circle. Six birds, identifiable by their heads, but only the legs of the first one are visible. The bird at the bottom left is from the same period. A more recent human figure is sketched at the bottom right.

187 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter II. - Large elephant from the bubaline period. The engraving lines are sharp and well-followed. The weathering of the rock has cut off the legs above the feet, with the detached fragments lying at the base of the engraving. From the tip of the trunk to the end of the tail: 1.40 m in length.

190 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - Detail of an engraved bovine head, showcasing remarkable artistic mastery. Width of the head at the level of the nostrils: 0.58 m.

193 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter II. - Two hippopotamuses, with only the upper one being finished. Deep and consistent engraving. Positioned too high on the wall to be measured.

194 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - Bovine depicted in the grazing position. Below it, a teratological animal artificially composed of two hindquarters joined at the belly. From one tail to the other: 0.62 m in length. To the right of the tail's origin, a late addition of an animal head to correct (?) the lack of rationality of such a monster.

195 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter II. - Lioness with marked claws, her tail bent upwards towards her back. It’s possible this tail actually belongs to a previous engraving. Note the 3 cup-shaped depressions behind the left front paw. From the top of the arch to the lioness’s hind paw: 0.75 m in height.

196 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter II. - Giraffe drawn after L. Frobénius. Note the circle enclosing the origin of the neck. The drawing of the legs is awkward.

197 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter II. - Detail of the head from the previous drawing.

198 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - Giraffe engraved with a deep line and a highly stylized head, reminiscent of the style of the painter Chirico. Height of the animal: 1.30 m.

201 - Oued Mathendous. In Galgien. - Pastoral fresco depicting four bovids: three on the left, one on the right. The coat is represented by alternating polished and unpolished areas. Width of the depicted panel: 1.30 m.

202 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - Physical destruction of a beautiful rock document. Several fragments have disappeared, and the remaining ones show a shift from the original depiction. The three upper blocks are 1.33 m wide.

203 - Oued Mathendous. In Galgien. - Exceptional engraved elephant from the Bubaline period. This beautiful document is one of the peaks of Saharan rock art and one of the finest line engravings. It highlights the artists' familiarity with their biotope. Note that the length of the tusks was limited by the dimensions of the rock. From the tail to the end of the trunk: 2.65 m long.

Maximilien Bruggmann et Jean Garzoni lors de l'inventaire de l'éléphant sur la photo précédente.

277 - Region of Smara. - Bubale (the famous Pelorouis antiquus Duv.), whose horns, in aerial view, contrast with the body shown in profile. Deep-line engraving. One interpretation suggests the animal is lying down and struck by lines. Length from tail to snout: 0.27 m.

287 - El Beridj (Tadrart). - Bubaline age engravings, but very difficult to read. The anatomical precision is quite remarkable here. Five bovid species are identified, and on the right, a later depiction of a giraffe. Width of the panel: 4 m.

288 - El Beridj (Tadrart). - Detail from the previous photo.

338 - Oued Djérat (Afar-Mellah, Tassili-n'Ajjer). - A large bubale (Peloroois antiquus Duv.) engraved, with a kneeling (?) figure behind it, holding its right hand toward its tail. On the head, one can distinguish either bristling hair or feathers. A belt with three stripes is clearly visible.

488 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Is it a Bubale (Pelaravis antiquus Duv.), as the horns suggest? This white painting surrounded by red is typical of the animals depicted at Séfar. From muzzle to tail: 2.70 m long.

489 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Elephant with brown outlines and painted in white. It is typical of the Séfar style. From the tip of the tail to the trunk: 1.05 m.

490 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Headless figure with oversized limbs. From the left arm, an inexplicable striped structure extends. From elbow to elbow: 0.40 m.