A 120 centimeter high anthropomorphic figure, probably from the Round Head Period. The roundish head has a white section on its right, and both hands are raised, probably as a sacred gesture or in jubilation of some sort. The hands are symbols of power and protection in Berber mythology and are often used in Berber art and as sacred symbols above doors, as in this photo. This painting is located in a small shelter, not far from Wadi Imha, also a site of a Round Head Period art.
The Wadi (Valley) of Tashwinat, also written as
Tashwinet or Tashweenet, is widely regarded by the Berber Tuareg of the Sahara
as the capital of Acacus. This gigantic valley branches into dozens of smaller
valleys and hence the home of thousands of cave art paintings. The total number
of valleys around the Tashwinat area is said to be more than one hundred wadis.
The art, some of which dates to the Round Head Period (about
9000 years ago), is engaging, vivid, and includes paintings and engravings of
various animals, human figures, scenes of cattle with exaggerated horns, and
various social activities.
Most of the human figures
lacked any facial features and appear to
have mythological background and themes.
In fact some lacked heads altogether, and instead have what is known as stick-heads,
as in the following image. The heads are merely represented by a line or a stick.
Beautifully executed painting of two women dancing in style.
Wonderful capture of movement and sense of agility; a hunter in pursuit of game.
Elegant Elephant (Pastoral Period).
A group of figures in what appears to be a mysterious ceremony or dance.
Wadi tanshalt (T-Anshalt)
A hunting scene with figures with bows & arrows, and with what looks like hunting dogs.
The Tashwinat figure in jubilation, with three figures with stick heads in the far distant.
This ancient engraving, located in Wadi Takdhalt, shows a map of Wadi Tashwinat: the lines are wadis or valleys, and the holes are water wells. The map is well hidden and probably was meant to be hidden. The exact location of the map, according to our own reading, is: N24 51.124 E10 31.143
