Rock-art, landscape and cultural transition in the Wadi al-Ajal, Fazzan

Abstract

AbstractRock paintings and engravings form a significant component of the archaeological record in Libya. Working in tandem with other disciplines, the study of rock-art can help provide a perspective on the past that can not be derived from archaeology alone. Following on from the work of the Fazzan Archaeological Project, recent research in the Wadi al-Ajal has identified a number of previously unrecorded rock-art sites in relation to their physical context, and these are reported here. The engravings display distinct distribution patterns in relation to specific topographic features in the wadi, and these are discussed with particular reference to the Maknusa Pass. Finally, the relationship between the rock-art and the landscape in this region is implicated in cultural development and transition.