Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-07T05:21:23.668Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

ULVS XVI: Prehistoric Rock Carvings in the Tripolitanian Pre-desert

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2015

G. W. W. Barker*
Affiliation:
British School at Rome, Italy

Abstract

This paper discusses three groups of rock art in their local, Tripolitanian, context and in terms of their wider relationship with the known corpus of Saharan prehistoric art. The rock carvings at Maia Dib, Udei el Chel/Caf el-Metchia and el-Tolga are described and some preliminary thoughts advanced as to their date and significance. Some suggestions are also made regarding the possible relationship between these carvings and the climatic and environmental changes which characterised the Sahara in later prehistory.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Libyan Studies 1986

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arte Preistorica del Sahara. 1986. Florence, De Luca.Google Scholar
Aumassip, G. 19801981. Ti-u-Hanakaten (Tassili-n-Ajjers, Algérie). Bilan de 6 campagnes de fouilles. Libica 28–29: 115127.Google Scholar
Bailloud, L. 1960. Les peintures rupestres archaïques de l'Ennedi (Tchad). L'Anthropologie 64: 211234.Google Scholar
Barich, B. 1984a. The epipalaeolithic ceramic groups of Libyan Sahara: notes for an economic model of the cultural development in the west-central Sahara. In Krzyzaniak, L. and Kobusiewicz, M. (eds.), Origin and Early Development of Food-Producing Cultures in North-Eastern Africa. Poznan, Polish Academy of Science: 399410.Google Scholar
Barich, B. 1984b. Fieldwork in the Tadrart Acacus and the ‘Neolithic’ of the Sahara. Current Anthropology 25: 683686.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barich, B., Belluomini, G., Bonadonna, F., Alessio, M. and Manfra, L., 1984. Ecological and cultural relevance of the recent new radiocarbon dates from Libyan Sahara. In Krzyzaniak, L. and Kobusiewicz, M. (eds.), Origin and Early Development of Food-Producing Cultures in North-Eastern Africa. Poznan, Polish Academy of Science: 411417.Google Scholar
Barker, G. 1981. Early agriculture and economic change in north Africa. In Allan, J. A. (ed.), Sahara: Ecological Change and Early Economic History. London, Menas Press: 131145.Google Scholar
Barth, H. 1857. Travels and Discoveries in North and Central Africa. London, Longmans.Google Scholar
Beltrami, V. 1985. Population of Cyrenaica and eastern Sahara before the Greek period. In Barker, G., Lloyd, J. A. and Reynolds, J. (eds.), Cyrenaica in Antiquity. Oxford, British Archaeological Reports, International Series 236: 135143.Google Scholar
Bewley, R. H. 1981. The prehistoric evidence: lithic report. pp. 16–22 in Barker, G. and Jones, G. D. B., The UNESCO Libyan Valleys Survey 1980. Libyan Studies 12: 948.Google Scholar
Bonnet, D. 1889. Les gravures sur roches de Sud Oranais. Revue d'Ethnographie: 149158.Google Scholar
Brehony, J. A. N. 1960. Semi-nomadism in the Jebel Tarhuna. In Willimott, S. G. and Clarke, J. I. (eds.). Field Studies in Libya. Durham University, Department of Geography, Research Paper 4: 6069.Google Scholar
Butzer, K. W., Fock, G. J., Scott, L. and Stuckenrath, R. 1979. Dating and context of rock engravings in southern Africa. Science 203: 12011214.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Camps, G. 1969. Amekni, Néolithique Ancien du Hoggar. Paris, Arts et Métieres Graphiques.Google Scholar
Chasseloup Laubat, F. de. 1938. Art Rupestre au Hoggar (Haut Mertoutek). Paris, Plon.Google Scholar
Clark, J. D. 1976. Prehistoric populations and pressures favouring plant domestication in Africa. In Harlan, J., de Wet, J. M. J. and Stemler, A. B. L. (eds.), Origins of African Plant Domestication. The Hague, Mouton: 67105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clarke, J. I. 1960. The Siaan: pastoralists of the Jefara. In Willimott, S. G. and Clarke, J. I. (eds.), Field Studies in Libya. Durham University, Department of Geography, Research Paper 4: 5259.Google Scholar
Daniels, C. 1970. The Garamantes of Southern Libya. Stoughton, Oleander Press.Google Scholar
Davis, W. (in press). Representation, knowledge and legitimation in the early Egyptian state. In McIntosh, R. and McIntosh, S. (eds.), Early Complex Societies in Africa. Cambridge, University Press (School of American Research).Google Scholar
Dipartimento delle Antichità (Tripoli) e Università di Roma. 1981. Mostra delle Pitture Rupestri Preistoriche del Tadrart Acacus — Sahara Libico.Google Scholar
Dunbar, J. H. 1941. The Rock Pictures of Lower Nubia. Cairo, Government Press.Google Scholar
Fantoli, L., 1932. Un programma di ricerche in Libia. Bollettino Geografico 2 (Ufficio Studi del Governo della Tripolitania).Google Scholar
Flamand, G. B. M. 1921. Les Pierres Ecrites. Paris, Musson.Google Scholar
Ford-Johnstone, J. L. 1959. Neolithic Cultures of North Africa. Liverpool, University Press.Google Scholar
Frobenius, L. 1937. Ekade Ektab. Die Felsbilder Fezzans. Leipzig, Harrassowitz.Google Scholar
Gautier, A. 1984. Archaeozoology of the Bir Kiseiba region, Eastern Sahara. In Wendorf, F., Schild, R. and Close, A. E. (eds.), Cattle Keepers of the Eastern Sahara. Dallas, Southern Methodist University.Google Scholar
Godelier, M. 1978. Territory and property in primitive society. Social Sciences Information 17: 405420.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Graziosi, P. 1934. Ricerche preistoriche nel Fezzan e nella Tripolitania. Il Sahara Italiana I. Fezzan e Oasi de Gat. Bollettino Geografico 4 (Ufficio Studi del Governo della Tripolitania): 911.Google Scholar
Graziosi, P. 1937. Preistoria del Fezzan. Reale Società Geografica Italiana: 243274.Google Scholar
Graziosi, P. 1942. L'Arte Rupestre della Libia. Naples. Mostra d'Oltremare.Google Scholar
Graziosi, P. 1962. Arte Rupestre del Sahara Libico. Florence, Vallecchi.Google Scholar
Guida d'Italia: Libia 1937. Milan, Touring Club Italiano.Google Scholar
Haynes, D. E. L. 1965. The Antiquities of Tripolitania. Tripoli, Department of Antiquities, Museums and Archives.Google Scholar
Hivernel, F. 1985. The UNESCO Libyan Valleys Survey XI: preliminary lithic report. Libyan Studies 16: 2950.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hodder, I. 1979. Social and economic stress and material culture patterning. American Antiquity 44: 446454.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jakel, D. 1977. Run-off and Fluvial Process in the Central Sahara as Indicators in the Reconstruction of a Climatic History of the Tibesti Mountains. Birmingham, INQUA.Google Scholar
Lewis-Williams, J. D. 1981. Believing and Seeing: Symbolic Meanings in Southern San Rock Art. London.Google Scholar
Lewis-Williams, J. D. 1982. The economic and social context of Southern San Rock Art. Current Anthropology 23: 476.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lhote, H. 1958. À la Découverte des Fresques du Tassili. Paris.Google Scholar
Lhote, H. 1965. L'évolution de la faune dans les gravures et les peintures rupestres du Sahara et ses relations avec l'évolution climatique. Miscelánea en Homenaje al Abate Henri Breuil, 1877–1961. Barcelona, Instituto de Prehistoria y Arqueologia: 83118.Google Scholar
Lhote, H. 19751976. Les Gravures Rupestres de l'Oued Djerat (Tassili-n-Ajjer). Algiers, Mém du CRAPE 25.Google Scholar
Lhote, H. and Tomasson, R. 1972. Gravures rupestres de la Haute Vallée du Tilemsi (Adrar des Iforas, République du Mali). Actes de 6e Congrès Panafricain de Préhistoire (Dakar, 1967): 235241.Google Scholar
Maitre, J. P. 1971. Contribution à la Préhistoire de l'Ahaggar. 1. Téfedest Central. Paris, Arts et Métieres Graphiques.Google Scholar
Maley, J. 1981. Études Palynologiques dans le Bassin du Tchad et Paléoclimatologie de l'Afrique Nord-Tropicale de 30.000 ans à l'Epoque Actuelle. Paris, Orstom.Google Scholar
Mattingly, D. J. 1983. The Laguatan: a Libyan tribal confederation in the late Roman empire. Libyan Studies 14: 96108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McBurney, C.B. M. 1955. The Stone Age of North Africa. London, Allen Lane.Google Scholar
McBurney, C.B. M. 1967. The Haua Fteah in Cyrenaica. Cambridge, University Press.Google Scholar
Mori, F. 1960. Arte Preistorica del Sahara Libico. Rome, De Luca.Google Scholar
Mori, F. 1965. Tadrart Acacus. Turin, Einaudi.Google Scholar
Muzzolini, A. 1982a. Les climats Sahariens durant l'Holocene et la fin du Pleistocene. Travaux du Laboratoire d'Anthropologie, de Préhistoire et d'Etnologie des Pays de la Méditerranée Occidentale 2: 138.Google Scholar
Muzzolini, A. 1982b. La ‘période des chars’ au Sahara. L'hypothèse de l'origine egyptienne du cheval et du char. In Camps, G. and Gast, M. (eds.) Les Chars Préhistoriques du Sahara: 4556. Aix en Provence, Université de Provence.Google Scholar
Noten, F. van 1978. Rock Art of the Jebel Uweinat (Libyan Sahara). Graz, Adeva.Google Scholar
Obermaier, H. 1931. L'âge de l'art rupestre nord-Africain. L'Anthropologie 41: 6574.Google Scholar
Petit-Maire, N. and Riser, J. (eds.). 1983. Le Sahara Malien à l'Holocène. Paris, CNRS.Google Scholar
Reid Ferring, C. 1975. The Aterian in North African prehistory. In Wendorf, F. and Marks, A. E. (eds.), Problems in Prehistory: North Africa and the Levant: 113126.Google Scholar
Servant, M. and Servant-Vildary, S. 1980. L'environement quaternaire du bassin du Tchad. In Williams, M. A. J. and Faure, H. (eds.), The Sahara and the Nile. Rotterdam, Balkema.Google Scholar
Shaw, B. D. 1976. Climate, environment, and prehistory in the Sahara. World Archaeology 8: 133148.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Street, A. and Gasse, F. 1981. Quaternary climatic change. In Allan, J. A. (ed.), Sahara: Ecological Change and Early Economie History. London, Menas Press.Google Scholar
Vaufrey, R. 1939. L'Art Rupestre Nord-Africain. Paris, Masson. (Archives de l'Institut de Paléontologie Humaine, Memoire 20).Google Scholar
Wendorf, F., Schild, R. and Close, A. E. 1984. Cattle Keepers of the Eastern Sahara: the Neolithic of Bir Kiseiba. Dallas, Southern Methodist University.Google Scholar
Wendorf, F. and Schild, R. 1980. Prehistory of the Eastern Sahara. New York, Academic Press.Google Scholar
Wendorf, F., Schild, R., Said, R., Haynes, C. V., Gautier, A. and Kobusiewicz, M. 1976. The prehistory of the Egyptian Sahara. Science 193: 103114.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Winkler, H.A. 1938. The Rock Drawings of Southern Upper Egypt. Oxford, University Press.Google Scholar