The parts of the Sahara we visited have an incredible variety of pictographs and petroglyphs dating from about 10,000 BCE to recent times. The best quality is often found in the oldest examples. The chart on the right (which we found in the museum at Germa) helps to date the art. The period from 10,000-6,000 BCE is known as the Wild Fauna or Early Hunter or Bubalus (a species of wild buffalo that became extinct 3,000 BCE) Period. Depicted are elephants, giraffes, and Barbary sheep that were abundant in the then lush savannah. The round head period (8000-6000 BCE) is known for human figures with formless bodies and painted, circular heads devoid of features. Its later stages feature more decorative figures adorned with headdresses and unusual clothing. The people were foragers.

The pastoral period (5500-2000 BCE) coincedes with the transition of a temperate to a more arid clima. It shows people with spears, domesticated cattle and ceremonies. The skill of the artists began to decline. The horse period (1000-0 BCE) shows horses and horse-drawn carts. Human figures are depicted by two triangles with circular heads. The final era of Saharan rock art was the camel period (200 BCE to present) with camels depicted in abundance. Paintings from the earliest time are of the best quality.

The petroglyphs of the now extinct giant buffalo on the left and the giraffe below wild fauna period.

The pictographs of the rider on the left and the camel below are more recent.

There are a few quite explicit sex scenes like the one on the left.

Vandals or moral zealots defaced some of the sex scenes with spray paint. Nothing is perfect, said the fox.

The pictograph on the left has the appearance of a camel period even though there is a giraffe in the picture.

Beautiful hunting scene.

The elephant on the right and the giraffe below seem to date them in the wild fauna period.

Located in Wadi Tashwinat, the pictographs above, left, and below are part of the 6000 year old wedding scene. Note the fine detail of the women at left and below trying on the wedding dress.

Palm trees on the right.

Ostriches on the left.

Yvonne is pointing at a giraffe.

Antelopes above, left, and below.

Giant buffalo.

Giraffe and ostrich.

At left, along the ridge, Wadi Matkhandoush has a large collection of petroglyphs dating back at least 12,000 years.

Giant buffalo.

Rhinoceros.

Crocodile.

The most famous of the Saharan rock art we saw are the fighting cats. They aren’t that easy to find. Our guide, and another one from another tour, took several passes just below the cats and initially didn’t find the famous petroglyph. We added the word “cats” in the picture on the right to show the location.

The flat-surface rock in the center of the picture contains the fighting cats.

Some climbing is required If one wants to get closer to the cats.

We finally made it and took lots of pictures.

The two cat-like figures are sparring on their hind-legs with four ostriches between them. This is considered the single most spectacular rock carving in all of Libya. It’s probably 12,000 years old.