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Dhar Tichitt is a Neolithic archaeological site in the south-western Saharan region of Mauritania. It is one of several settlement sites along the sandstone cliffs in the area. The cliffs were inhabited by farmers and pastoralists from about 4500 B.C. and lasted until about 2300 B.C. This area is one of the oldest known archaeological settlement sites in the western part of Africa. About 500 stone settlements were scattered throughout the region in the former Saharan savannah. In addition to cattle breeding (e.g. cattle, sheep, goats), the inhabitants hunted, fished, gathered wild cereals and cultivated rush millet. - In the background, the town of Tichitt. - Mauritania - 1970

Akreïjit, like Dhar Tichitt, is a Neolithic site in the south-western Saharan region of Mauritania. - 1970

Dhar Tichitt is a Neolithic archaeological site in the south-western Saharan region of Mauritania. It is one of several settlement sites along the sandstone cliffs in the area. The cliffs were inhabited by farmers and pastoralists from about 4500 B.C. and lasted until about 2300 B.C. This area is one of the oldest known archaeological settlement sites in the western part of Africa. About 500 stone settlements were scattered throughout the region in the former Saharan savannah. In addition to raising livestock (e.g. cattle, sheep, goats), the inhabitants hunted, fished, gathered wild cereals and cultivated rush millet. - View of a wind-eroded rock from a grotto. - Mauritania - 1970

On the Fadnoun plateau in the "Parc National du Tassili", you come across a large rock slab full of engravings: giraffes, antelopes, ostriches as well as human figures, but above all the famous, five-metre-long cow that people carved into this rock slab thousands of years ago. – Tin-Terhert - Oued Djerat - Algeria - 1962

If you walk along the Wadi Djerat in the Tassili n'Ajjer, on its left bank you come across a stone known only to the Tuareg. If you pick it up, you will see the carefully oiled imprint of a human foot underneath. For the blue men there is no doubt: this is the mark left by their oldest ancestor when he came to this land. To prevent the precious relic from weathering, each visitor reverently brushes it with oil and places the stone on it again (length 22 cm). - Algeria - 1962

The large abri with paintings at site 10 of Enneri Blaka in the Republic of Niger is another example of the localities that attracted Neolithic people. Very good details of the paintings decorating these abris can be found in images SAR-117, SAR-119 and SAR-121 of the chapter "Rock Art in the Sahara". - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1968

We have already shown the exterior view of the rock niche from site 10 in Enneri Blaka in the previous picture. Here is the view from the inside. Note at the top left the edge of the large painting with the cattle facing the motionless and barren desert. The cave opens towards the southeast, and from there you can see the other bank of the Enneri. This remarkable site is one of a succession of eight sites, all discovered by the Blaka expedition led by Maximilien Bruggmann in 1968. - Enneri Blaka - Niger - 1968

These pottery sherds come from the Adrar Bous area - West Ténéré - Niger - 1975

These prehistoric pottery shards and bones come from the Adrar Bous area - West Ténéré - Niger - 1975

At El Beyed, Mauritania, although no palaeontological documents are available, a very important Acheulean deposit, characterised mainly by bifaces and choppers, outcrops on the present ground. The position of the geological layers in which the industries are found gives a first chronological approach. But, of course, it is not known to which human type they belong. No serious excavations have yet been carried out in this region, which is becoming increasingly rich.

At El Beyed, Mauritania, although no palaeontological documents are available, a very important Acheulean deposit, characterised mainly by bifaces and choppers, outcrops on the present ground. The position of the geological layers in which the industries are found gives a first chronological approach. But, of course, it is not known to which human type they belong. No serious excavations have yet been carried out in this region, which is becoming increasingly rich.

At Terarart, south of Djanet, you will not only find the highly stylised but carefully executed Weeping Cattle on a group of rocks, which are among the most beautiful Saharan rock art has left behind. If you are lucky, you will also find Neolithic stone axes in the sand.

Probably the most common evidence of the Neolithic in the Sahara are arrowheads. - The polished axe must have been the primary weapon or implement of Neolithic man. Thousands of them have been found, and the beauty of its shape and the fine grain of the minerals chosen are a source of admiration. – Site 1 - Enneri Blaka - Niger – 1975