Tassili n’Ajjer

The Tassili n’Ajjer is a vast plateau in south-eastern Algeria near Libya, Niger, and Mali borders. It spans almost 72000 square-kilometres. Astonishing evidence of prehistory may be found in the abundance of paintings, engravings, and numerous prehistoric artefacts. Many archaeological sites, habitations, burial mounds, and enclosures were left by many peoples between 10,000 BC and the first centuries of our era, resulting in an abundance of stone and pottery artefacts. Since its discovery in 1933, Tassili has been famous for its rock art (engravings and paintings). It is estimated that there are 15,000 engravings.

Tassili n’Ajjer

Algerian national park Tassili n’Ajjer is located in the Sahara desert, bordering Libya, Niger, and Mali on a huge plateau in the south-eastern region of Algeria. One of the most important collections of prehistoric rock art globally, it covered an area of around 80,000 square kilometres and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1982. It was designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1986.

There are hundreds of natural rock arches and other beautiful land formations on the plateau, mainly of sandstone. There are scattered woodlands of endangered endemic species of the Saharan cypress (one of the oldest trees in the world) and the Saharan myrtle in the area due to the altitude and water-holding capabilities of the sandstone. Tassili n’Ajjer, or ‘plateau of rivers’, is the closest English translation. As late as the twentieth century, the Tassili n’Ajjer was home to West African crocodile relics. The only remaining large mammal species shown in the region’s rock art is the Barbary sheep, one of many species that once roamed the vast plateau in south-eastern Algeria.

Tassili’s Induction into UNESCO.

It is estimated that rock art images date back roughly 10,000 years. As a result of the archaeological evidence, they can provide an especially vivid account of climate shifts, changes in fauna and flora, and the agricultural and pastoral opportunities provided by previously impregnable defensive locations.

The property has exceptional aesthetic value with its “rock woods” formed by eroded sandstone. There are still remnants and signs of the most significant geological and climatic events preserved in the sandstone A plateau carved by water and smoothed by the wind has formed due to the corrosive impacts of water and the wind. Precambrian crystalline components and sedimentary sandstone successions are prominent features of Tassili n’Ajjer geology, palaeogeography, and paleoecology.

Humans developed cultural and physiological adaptations that allowed them to survive in a tough climate for thousands of years to survive in this environment. Tassili n’Ajjer’s rock art is the most eloquent depiction of human-environment relationships, with more than 15,000 paintings and engravings documenting climatic change, wildlife migrations, and human evolution on the border of the Sahara. The hippopotamus and other species that have been extinct in the area for a long time are depicted in this artwork. This site’s blend of geological, biological, and cultural features is a testament to life.

The Vast Plateau in South-Eastern Algeria

Destination Algeria, the largest Maghreb state in North Africa, is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea in the north by Nations Online’s country profile. Its borders are North of Tunisia, east of Libya, west of Morocco, southwest of Western Sahara, Mauritania and Mali, and southeast of Niger. Italy and Spain have sea borders with this country.

 Since the split of Sudan, Algeria has become the continent’s largest country. It is four times the size of France or nearly three times the size of the United States state of Texas, making it one of the largest countries in the world.

The Tell Atlas mountain range separates the Mediterranean plains and the southern desert, and most of Algeria’s land is in the Western Sahara Desert.

The population of Algeria is 44.7 million (in 2021). Nearly all of Algeria’s population lives along the country’s northern shore. Algiers, the country’s seaside capital and primate city, is the country’s capital and largest city. 

As an educational, commercial and linguistic bridge, French plays a vital role in the country. The Berber language of Tamazight has been declared a national language under the Moroccan constitution. The constitution states that Islam is the official religion of the country. Sunni Muslims make up the majority of Algerians, both Arab and Amazigh.

Conclusion

Humans developed cultural and physiological adaptations that allowed them to survive in a tough climate for thousands of years. Tassili n’Ajjer rock art is the most eloquent depiction of human-environment relationships, with more than 15,000 paintings and engravings documenting climatic change, wildlife migrations, and human evolution. The hippopotamus and other species are depicted. This site’s blend of geological, biological, and cultural features is a testament to life.