The Cultural and Historical Connection between Tefinagh Inscriptions and Rock Art Sites in Tadrart Acacus (Southwest Libya)

Summary

This paper discusses what kind of cultural and historical correlation between Tefinagh inscriptions and rock art in the Tadrart Acacus. The Tuareg alphabet, Tefinagh, is one of ancient African alphabets documented not only in Libya but also Algeria and Tunisia, among other countries. It is traditionally taught by a mother to all her children. This alphabet, which dates back at least to the second half of the first millennium B.C.E, is used by approximately 50 percent of the Tuareg for short messages and inscriptions. Furthermore, hundreds of Tefinagh inscriptions have been discovered in the Tadrart Acacus, some placed near or at sites with rock art. The rock art sites in the Tadrart Acacus dated from 12000 B.C.E to 100 C.E. The study area, Tadrart Acacus, is an area of about 150 km in length and 50 km in width. It is located in the Fezzan region situated in southwest part of Libya. Tadrart Acacus hosts one of the richest concentrations of Saharan rock art and was included on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1985. This paper attempts to undertake interviews with Tuareg people as per the questionnaire provided, and also uses standard recording sheets.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 14671