Photo Gallery

Niger - Tadrart - Site In-Djaren - Rock isolated with 8 carved elephants

When the Sahara was still green, it was inhabited by numerous representatives of the African fauna, many of which can still be found in the more fertile areas today. As proof, this 2.65 meter-long engraving of an elephant is to be seen in one of the most beautiful and significant rock-art sites from the so-called Bubaline period (Wadi Mathendous, Fezzan, Libya).

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

On a large pyramid rock is an engraved fresco showing eight elephants. Cattle Epoch. Flat engraving created by chipping with remarkable accuracy. The last elephant is in the process of defecating. Below is a frieze of figures also engraved, but at a later date. Algeria - Tadrart - In-Djaren - 1993

Engraving of an elephant in In Djaren. Algeria - Tadrart - 1993

(5) - Fadnoun (Tassili-n'Ajjer) – A very naturalistic elephant walking. It gives the certainty of a direct observation by the artist. Length of the tail to the tip of the trunk: 0 - .34 m.

22 - Tagueït bas (Aïr). - Pastoral Period. An elephant, with noticeable feet and a vertical line across the middle of its belly. Another antelopine. A schematic ostrich made with a single line. Height of the elephant: 0.40 m.

34 - Tagueït moyen (Aïr). - Two male elephants in the same very decadent style as the previous giraffes and ostriches. They appear to be from the pre-Islamic period but should be dated to the end of the pastoral period.

40 - Tagueït high (Aïr). – Punctuated elephant, very decadent. From the top of the skull to the hind leg: 0.27 m.

42 - Tagueït high (Aïr). – Fresco depicting giraffes, an elephant, ostriches, and an ox. The important site of Tagueït does not offer any truly ancient engravings. The wildlife is still significant, but the arrival of foreign ethnic groups often makes it difficult to attribute them to a specific culture.

51 - Tanakom (Aïr). - Spotted elephant, strange schematic animals. Note the three stylized figures. Height of the elephant: 0.45 m.

78 - Djado Region. - Engraved elephant 3.50 m above the ground. Here, the classic style is evident, although there is asymmetry in the movement of the legs. From the tip of the front legs to the back leg: 2.22 m.

78 - Djado Region. - (original photo) Engraved elephant 3.50 m above the ground. Here, the classic style is evident, although there is asymmetry in the movement of the legs. From the tip of the front legs to the back leg: 2.22 m.

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

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)

82 - 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 (81). 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.

89 - Enneri Blaka. Site 1. - Elephant engraved in line. Bubal period. From the trunk to the base of the tail: 0.53 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

147 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter III. - Period of the "bubale". A large elephant faces an undefinable being, called "Meerkatze" by some. Below the elephant’s trunk, a hare or rabbit is clearly identifiable. The width of the depicted rock is 1.80 m.

148 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter II. - An ensemble in which it would be tempting to see Garamantian graffiti accompanied by Tifinar inscriptions. The most interesting part is the figure on the right, despite it certainly being a more recent addition: on a massive rectangular "body" with scales facing upwards, there appears a hemispherical structure whose lower part is inserted into the body. The body itself rests on two medium-sized balls placed on two larger balls. Finally, the scaled structure seems to rest on a narrow band with larger scales. No explanation can be given for this engraving of undetermined age. Height of the figure: 2 m. Width of the body: 1.20 m.

155 - Oued Mathendous. ln Habeter II. - Period of the "bubale." Beautiful naturalistic elephant engraved with deep strokes. Below, bovids. From the tail to the tip of the trunk: 1.10 m.

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.

178 - Oued Mathendous. In Habeter II. - Period of the "bubale." Beautiful elephant measuring 1.55 m from the legs to the skull. A misjudgment places both tusks to the left of the trunk. The elephants suggest a dense vegetation cover. Note the small figures.

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.

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.

233 - Tadrart Acacous. Teshouinat-Tagzelt. - Engraved elephant, a depiction that is rare in the Acacous. From the front foot to the back foot: 1.23 m in length. (Photos 232, 234, and 237 come from the same shelter.)

233 - Tadrart Acacous. Teshouinat-Tagzelt. - (original photo) Engraved elephant, a depiction that is rare in the Acacous. From the front foot to the back foot: 1.23 m in length. (Photos 232, 234, and 237 come from the same shelter.)

275 - Region of Tiflit. - Elephants, schematically carved, with deep lines. The pair of legs is rendered by a median line in the legs. Height from the skull to the front foot: 0.35 m.

307 - ln Djaren (Tadrart). - On a large pyramidal rock, there is an engraved fresco showing eight elephants. From the "bubale" period. The engraving is shallow, executed through pitting with remarkable attention to accuracy. The last elephant is defecating. Below, there is a frieze of figures also engraved, but at a later date.

308 - Drawing by Maximilien Bruggmann showing how the engraver depicted the last elephant in photo 307.

308 - (original photo) Drawing by Maximilien Bruggmann showing how the engraver depicted the last elephant in photo 307.

309 - ln Djaren South (Tadrart). - A carved elephant charging a hunter wearing an "Ouan Amil" hat. The man holds a weapon. A second elephant appears in the background. The distance from the back leg of the elephant to the front foot of the man is 1.05 m.

382 - Oued Djérat (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Engraved elephant with "butterfly ears." It is located at the beginning of the Oued Abezza.

383 - Oued Djérat (Tassili-n'Ajjer, Oued Abezza). - Another engraved elephant. The trunk is ridged. The forehead is too sloping. The tusks are tiny.

384 - Oued Djérat (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Engraved elephant. The trunk is drawn towards the lower jaw. The eye is depicted "Indian style." The elephant's legs are surmounted by an engraved ostrich.

385 - Oued Djérat (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Elephant with dotted outline. Note the presence of the sex.

386 - Oued Djérat (Tassili-n'Ajjer, Oued Abezza). - Drawing by Maximilien Bruggmann, based on an engraving of an elephant.

386 - Oued Djérat (Tassili-n'Ajjer, Oued Abezza). - (original photo) Drawing by Maximilien Bruggmann, based on an engraving of an elephant.

387 - Oued Djérat (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Beautiful engraving of a large elephant. The ears are squared with lines, but the eyes are shown flat on the same plane!

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.

633 - Yeï Loulou Yoga (Niger). - Engraved elephant. 1.20 m in height.

651 - Gonoa (Tibesti). - Deeply engraved elephant. The smallest one preceding it is probably not from the same period. Typical landscape of Gonoa in a field of volcanic rocks. From the front of the small elephant to the hind leg of the large one: 1.60 m.

653 - Gonoa (Tibesti). - Elephant rendered primarily with straight lines, giving a geometric look to this engraving, which is recent in style but rare: 0.41 m tall. Only the back and trunk are slightly curved. From the base of the tail to the hind leg: 0.88 m.

655 - Gonoa (Tibesti). - A large elephant towers over a bull with lyre-shaped horns whose belly is marked with a vertical line. Between the two, a later camel. Note that the elephant has no observable eye. The belly of the elephant, at its center, measures 0.57 m.