Tassili frescoes recall the life of several human groups who coexisted or followed one another in this region during the 6 millenia preceeding our time .
There were four main eras :
- Era of Hunters : 6000 to 4000 B.C.
- Era of Stockbreeders: 4000 to 1500 B.C.
- Era of Horse : 1500 B.C. to 1st century A.D.
- Era of Camel : from 1st century on .
The first two eras are going to be dealt with in this site .
** ** Hunters :
Representation of motion characterizes best the paintings of the Hunters era .As a matter of fact, the figures never stand still : one runs, another jumps, this one walks, that one bends his bow, It's full of life , gives an impression of vivacity and shows an incontestable taste for narration..
** ** Stockbreeders :
They domesticated stock , goats, sheep, gathered wild graminaceae and above all had built a complex social life as we can see on the frescoes found in the Tassili plateau .
* Rites :
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These figures , 6000 years old , take part in a ritual ceremony. Men wear large hats that recall us of Ancient Egypt . |
| Rituals |
* Shepherds :
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| Shepherds | Shepherds2 | |
| These shepherds chatting with one another are 5000 years old. Pict.left : richness of clothing is remarquable.Pict.right: Figures wear cloaks similar to those worn by Lybian chiefs shown in Egyptian ancient paintings. |
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* Men of influence :
This scene shows how highly organised these societies might have been .
Richness of attitudes,diversity in clothing,
and , more , the notion of hierarchy amid
this group are highly remarquable .
Assembly of Notables
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© Odile Prigent-Paleologos 1998-2003 |
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