Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-m9kch Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-06T03:33:49.926Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Proposals for Updating the Rock-Drawing Sequence of the Acacus (Libya)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 March 2015

A. Muzzolini
A. Muzzolini*
Affiliation:
Laboratoire d'Archéozoologie, St-André-de-Cruzières, and 7 Rue J. de Rességuier, 31000, Toulouse, France
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The classification/chronology system which Mori put forward in 1965 for the rock-drawing sequence of the Acacus mountains has not since then been modified. It now needs re-examination, taking into account the recently acquired archaeological, palaeoclimatological and archaeozoological data and also the rock-drawing sequence of the Tassili. Indeed, several schools are found in both massifs. Firstly, this article summarises the archaeological results from recent excavations, mainly from Ti-n-Torha; the 14C dates relevant to rock-pictures are set within their context and evaluated. Secondly, a new classification/chronology system is proposed, which matches the data provided by the other disciplines and the Tassilian sequence. Only some of Mori's initial units have been kept. Among the Acacus engravings, some have slight traits belonging to the ‘Naturalistic Bubaline’. Other engravings are considered unclassifiable. As for the paintings, the Round Heads are represented by their final phases only. A ‘Uan Amil Herders’ group corresponds to the ‘Final Bovidian’, not to the Early Bovidian. Finally the ‘Ti-n-Anneuin Herders’ group is the most strongly represented in the Tassili as well as in the Acacus mountains. It is contemporary with the Horse Period. Some sets of paintings also appear as unclassifiable. Whether the Garamantes are to be linked with the most recent schools remains questionable.

Type
Articles
Information
Libyan Studies , Volume 22 , 1991 , pp. 7 - 30
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Libyan Studies 1991

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

Barich, B. (ed.). 1987. Archaeology and environment in the Libyan Sahara. The excavations in the Tadrart Acacus, 1978-1983. Cambr. Monog. Af. Arch. 23, B.A.R. Intn. Ser. 368, Oxford.Google Scholar
Barker, G. W. W. 1989. From classification to interpretation: Libyan prehistory, 1969–1989. Libyan Studies 20:31–43.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Camps, G. 1968. Amekni, Néolithique ancien du Hoggar. C.R.A.P.E., Mém. 10, Alger, 230 p.Google Scholar
Camps, G. 1980. Berbères, Aux marges de l'Histoire. Toulouse, Ed. des Hespérides, , 352 p.Google Scholar
Caneva, I. 1987. Pottery decoration in prehistoric Sahara and Upper Nile: a new perspective. In Archaeology and Environment in the Libyan Sahara, Barich, B. (ed.), B.A.R. Intn. Ser. 368, Oxford: 231–254.Google Scholar
Close, A. E. 1980. Current research and recent radiocarbon dates from Northern Africa. Journal of African History 21: 145–167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daniels, C. 1970a. The Garamantes of Southern Libya. Oleander Press, Stoughton U.S.A. and Harrow U.K.Google Scholar
Daniels, C. 1970b. The Garamantes of Fezzan: excavations on Zinchecra 1965-1967. Antiquaries Journal London, 2,1: 37–66.Google Scholar
Daniels, C. 1989. Excavation and fieldwork amongst the Garamantes. Libyan Studies 20: 45–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Faleschini, G., Mastronuzzi, G., Palmentola, G. and Sanso, P. 1990. Dipinti del Takarkori, Akakus libico. Poster at the Convegno Intern. ‘L 'arte e l'ambiente del Sahara preistorico: dati e interpretazioni‘ Milan, 10 1990.Google Scholar
Frobenius, L. 1937. Ekade Ektab. Die Felsbilder Fezzans. Harrassowits, Leipzig, 74 p., 91 Pl.Google Scholar
Gabriel, B. 1986. Die östliche Libysche Wüste im Jungquartär. Berliner geogr. Studien 19. Inst, für Geogr. der Techn. Univ. Berlin, 219 p.Google Scholar
Gautier, A. 1982. Prehistoric fauna from Ti-n-Torha (Tadrart Acacus, Libya). Origini XI, 1977-1982: 87–127.Google Scholar
Gautier, A. 1987. The archaeozoological sequence of the Acacus. In Barich, B. (ed.), Archaeology and Environment in the Libyan Sahara, B.A.R. Intn. Ser. 368, Oxford: 283–312.Google Scholar
Gautier, A. and Muzzolini, A. (in press). The life and times of the giant buffalo aliasBubalus/Homoioceras/Pelorovis antiquus in North Africa.Google Scholar
Hassan, F. A. 1985. Radiocarbon chronology of neolithic and predynastic sites in Upper Egypt and the Delta. African Archaeological Review 3: 95–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huard, P. 1978. A propos de l'Exposition Sahara (Cologne, juin-août 1978). Bulletin de la Société Préhistorique Française 75, 7:198.Google Scholar
Kunz, J. 1979. Felsbilder der westlichen Tassili-n-Ajjer (Algerien). Beiträge zur allgemeinen und vergleichenden Archäologie I D.A.I.: 201–222, 20 Taf.Google Scholar
Lhote, H. 1970. Le peuplement du Sahara néolithique d'après l'interprétation des gravures et des peintures rupestres. Jalde la Société des Africanistes 40, 2: 91–102.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mori, F. 1965. Tadrart Acacus. Einaudi, Turin, 257 p.Google Scholar
Mori, F. 1968. The absolute chronology of Saharan Prehistoric Rock Art. Simp. Intern, de Arte rupestre, Barcelona 1966:291–294.Google Scholar
Mori, F. 1974. The earliest Saharan rock-engravings. Antiquity 48, 197: 87–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mori, F. 1978. Zur Chronologie der Sahara-Felsbilder. In Sahara, 10.000 Jahre zwischen Weide und Wüste, Köln, Museen (ed.): 253–261.Google Scholar
Köln, Museen der Stadt. 1978. Sahara, 10.000 Jahre zwischen Weide und Wüste. (Exposition). 472 p., Köln.Google Scholar
Muzzolini, A. 1986. L'art rupestre préhistorique des massifs centraux sahariens. British Arch. Reports, Cambridge Monogr. Afric. Arch. 16, B.A.R. Intn. Ser. 318, Oxford, 355 p. 187 ill.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Muzzolini, A. 1987. Les premiers moutons sahariens d'après les figurations rupestres. Actes du 5° Congrès Internat, d'Archéozoologie, Bordeaux (août 1986), in Archaeozoologia 1(2): 129–148.Google Scholar
Muzzolini, A. 1988. Le ‘Style de Tazina’: définition, extension, signification de ses figurations les plus méridionales (Fezzan, Tassili, Djado, Air). Préhistoire Ariégeoise 43: 179–201.Google Scholar
Muzzolini, A. 1989a. La ‘néolithisation’ du nord de l'Afrique et ses causes. In 'Néolithisations’, Aurenche, O. et Cauvin, J. (eds.), Maison de l'Orient méditerranéen (C.N.R.S.-Université Lyon 2) – B.A.R. Intn. Ser. 516, Oxford: 145–186.Google Scholar
Muzzolini, A. 1989b. Les peintures rupestres de Ti-n-Moussa (Tassili-n-Ajjer, Algérie). Têtes Rondes tardifs, groupe d'Iheren-Tahilahi, groupe d'Abaniora. Sahara 2: 31–48.Google Scholar
Muzzolini, A. 1990. The sheep in Saharan rock art. Rock Art Research 7, 2: 93–109.Google Scholar
Pace-Sergi-Caputo (Missione). 1951. Scavi Sahariani: Ricerche nell' Uadi el-Agial e nelP Oasi di Gat. Monum. antichi, Acc. Naz. Lincei, Roma, 41:152–551.Google Scholar
Sackett, J. R. 1977. The meaning of style in archaeology: a general model. American Antiquity 42, 3: 369–380.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sozzani, M. 1990. Due carri al galappo volplante e un dipinto insolito nel Tadrart Acacus. Sahara 3: 101–102.Google Scholar
Williams, E. 1989. Dating the introduction of food production into Britain and Ireland. Antiquity 240, 63: 510–521.CrossRefGoogle Scholar