Spanish expedition reveals ancient Sahara art
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A Spanish team explored the Tassili n'Ajjer massif in Algeria, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is now exhibiting their findings in Madrid, Spain.
The expedition followed the route of French explorer Henri Lhote, who discovered the area’s prehistoric rock art in 1956. Known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of the Sahara,’ Tassili contains over 15,000 paintings and engravings estimated to be 10,000 years old.
The Spanish group secured permission from the Algerian government to access Tassili, a site closed to visitors since 2003 after the kidnapping of tourists. Their work involved specialists from fields including ethnobotany, archaeology, and chemistry. The exhibition at the Liberespacio bookstore, running from October 22 to November 5, features images, artifacts, and sound recordings.
Organizers claim the audio recordings represent the first instance of audioarchaeology at Tassili’s rock shelters, along with chemical analyses of collected materials and examples of traditional Tuareg medicine.
