thumb|Manda Guéli Cave in the Ennedi Mountains, northeastern Chad

Saharan rock art is a significant area of archaeological study focusing on artwork carved or painted on the natural rocks of the central Sahara desert. The rock art dates from numerous periods starting years ago. This is not only significant to the culture of ancient African societies but also to the rest of humanity as a whole as it has continued to show how far back civilization goes and how it developed. In the different scenes from the art one can see the change that happened as the saharah became a desert as well as the fauna that surrounded the area. in some cases we can even get glimpses in to the beliefs of the people of the past.

Unfortunatelly, the paintings and carvings of the Sahara are endangered and vulnerable, rock art on uncovered rock has already disappeared. this is due to time and how the area has changed as well as the improper exploration of this sites in the past. Organizations, such as the Trust for African Rock Art, are researching and recording as much information about Saharan rock art as possible, while raising awareness of threats to the art itself.

New discoveries and ongoing research of Sahara's rock art includes findings of ancient symbols, mysterious figures, and scenes depicting early African society's relationship with animals. However it is slow going due to the need for proper archeologiacal and comparison. many have tried to hypothesize what these carvings and painting mean using similar artworks, iconographic similarities, or asumptions. Several new arworks are being found and the experts have to look at all of the data based on a period long past without letting their own preconceptions affect their reasoning.

Archaeological sites

Egypt

  • Cave of Swimmers: Wadi Sura I is located in the Gilf Kebir. This section of caves was discovered in 1933. Its name is derived from the figures on the wall who appear to be lined up and floating as if swimming.
  • The Rock art found in this region is often referred to as the ‘Wadi Sura style’ as scholars have identified stylistic and iconographic symbols (headless beasts, swimmers, and hand impressions) that appear to date to a similar time period, according to studies. The rock art that exists in these mountains was created before dramatic climate change in the Saharan Desert caused the inhabitants to move towards the Nile Valley. Large animal engravings and other rock art dates to between 12,000 and 4,000 years ago.
  • Ennedi: Next to the Tibesti Mountain chain is another mountain chain named Ennedi. Much of the rock art in this area is from the Horse Period, and was made in the last 2,000 years. Pastoral Period art was also shown here.

thumb|right|[[Neolithic cave paintings found in Tassili n'Ajjer (Plateau of the Chasms) region of the Sahara]]

  • Tadrart Acacus: Near the sand dune of Murzuk, bordering Tassili n'Ajjer, exists 12,000 year old prehistoric rock art. It appears to reflect much of the same culture as the Tassili n'Ajjer rock art.

alt=Crying Cows is low-relief rock art found in Tassil n’Ajjer. It depicts teardrops rolling down the faces of horned cattle. |thumb|Crying Cows low-relief [[rock art found in Tassili n'Ajjer, Algeria. It depicts teardrops rolling down the faces of horned cattle.]]

Algeria

  • Tassili n'Ajjer, the cave paintings found at Tassili n'Ajjer, north of Tamanrasset, Algeria, and at other locations depict vivid scenes of everyday life in central North Africa between about 10,000 BP and 6,000 BP, in the Later Stone Age. There are over 15,000 individual pieces of artwork in Tassili n'Ajjer. The art includes paintings and engravings into the rock that depicts the culture of Africans up to 12,000 years ago. They were executed by a hunting people in the Capsian period between 5,000 and 3,900 BP who lived in a savanna region teeming with giant buffalo, elephant, rhinoceros, and hippopotamus, animals that no longer exist in the now-desert area. Rock art such as the Crying Cows low-relief depicts the Pastoral Period in the Saharas.
  • The difficult to access Tassili n'Ajjer plateau has the rock art, Crying Cows, depicting teardrops rolling down the faces of horned cattle. They are thought to be dated around 7,000 to 8,000 years ago when the climate wasn’t nearly as dry. This depiction incorporates a local myth that describes a shepard carving the piece after being unable to find drinking water for his herd.
  • South Oran
  • Djelfa
  • Ahaggar

Morocco

  • Draa River
  • Rock art of Figuig

Niger

  • Aïr Mountains, Located in the northern part of Sudan, this region is home to over 1,500 rock drawings of animals, ranging from livestock to wild hippopotamuses. Here you can find the history of the Nubian peoples from the kingdom of Kush. The drawings are estimated to spand for a period of around 6000 years.

Sudan

  • Sabu-Jaddi

Research and Inerpretation

Archaeologists, anthropologists, and other researchers have been studying rock art to gain information about African cultures from the past. Many photographs are taken of the art so it can be studied further. Dating the art of the Sahara is made possible through radiometric dating of organic material, including radiocarbon dating. Organic artifacts found at the sites can be dated, as can some residues on the rock art itself.

It is important to understand that these tools are only half of the equation, as they are used to determine when and how these artworks came to be. The other side is their interpretation, wihich not only considers the artwork in context to understand the meaning of each piece to the peoples who created them, but also serves to understand the past. When interpreting these works, it is imperative that the researchers keep personal biases outside of their thought processes and aproach it from not only the perspective of an observer looking in, but also form the perspective of the individual who created them.

Rock art time periods

thumb|right|Rock art from the Bubalus time period in Tin Taghirt

  • Large Wild Fauna Period (12,000 BP - 6000 BP):
  • <!-- Deleted image removed: alt=Running Horned Woman|thumb|Running Horned Woman, Round Head Period rock art from Tassili n'Ajjer. -->Kel Essuf Period (9800 BP): The Kel Essuf rock art tradition of engraving may have developed into the Round Head rock art tradition of painting.
  • Round Head Period (9500 BP - 7000 BP):