Photo Gallery

An overview of the rock art in the Tan-Zoumaïtak shelter. You can make out people and mouflon (sheep). This dome-shaped shelter was worthy of arousing religious feelings. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - 1993

The dancers appear to be wearing long tunics, with the strip of fabric at the waist possibly being a bow. A look at the right hand of the left dancer shows that it is resting on the left mouflon, suggesting a simultaneity between the dancers and the mouflons. Note the structure of the calottes and the original decoration of the heads. The arms bear numerous rings. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer -n'Ajjer - Tan-Zoumaïtak - 1993

Fresco showing figures painted with brown ochre, which have a round head with two small antennae. It is not known why two of them are depicted lying down. The archer in the lower right corner holds a double-curved bow. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - Tin Tazarift - 1993

Exceptional fresco painted in several periods. Below, a parade of white mouflons mixed with dark ochre painted figures. Below left, a familiar scene with white painted figures. Above, another scene, this time involving black pastors fighting with their bows. On the left, behind a man with a clearly visible loincloth, one thinks one can sense a dead man. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - Séfar - 1993

The "white lady" and the "masked magician". The "white lady" has nothing to do with her South African namesake, who had seduced Abbé Breuil, or with a local representation of another, very adorned woman. Here it is a massive figure with a "round head" on which sits a feather (?). Opposite on the left is the face of a man wearing a white loincloth and whose body is decorated with a small diamond pattern. The whole thing is typically African. Algeria - Tassili n'Ajjer - In-Aouanrhet - 1993

4 - Tan-Zoumaïtak (Tassili-n'Ajjer) – Period of the "round heads". The magnificent ram with cuffs and the two elegant, richly adorned women stand out against the background of mysterious animals painted in white. In the middle, to the left, an animal is being ridden by a figure. The monstrous beast at the bottom left measures 0.52 m.

115 - Enneri Blaka. Site 10. - Paintings from the "round heads" period (?). At the top, two cows with calves, in white. Below, three unidentifiable quadrupeds, one in red ochre, the other in white. The depicted panel is 0.75 m wide.

334 - Aouanrhet (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - The "White Lady" and the "Masked Sorcerer". The "White Lady" has nothing to do with her namesake from South Africa, who charmed Abbé Breuil, nor with a local depiction of another highly adorned woman. Here, it is a massive figure with a "round head" crowned with a feather (?). Facing her, on the left, the face of a man wearing a white loincloth, with his body depicted in a pattern of small diamonds. Everything is typically African.

335 - Aouanrhet (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - The true "White Lady" of Tassili. Notice the "horned mask." The attire is typically African. A mystical feeling emanates from this painting. From one horn to the other: about 0.50 m.

398 - Jabbaren (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Painting from the period known as the "round heads". A composition reminiscent of modern "Martians". All in shades from yellow to brown. Sometimes the heads are completely spherical. Here, one feels powerless to interpret what the eye observes, as it neither corresponds to what we know nor to what we believe. No regular lines, no familiar objects. How one would like to understand what the artists were trying to tell us! At the center of the panel, a procession of figures rendered in dark brown. On their heads, there are horns (?) or baskets with handles. The costumes are as difficult to describe as the heads. Height of the figure: 0.78 m.

399 - Jabbaren (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Mural of the same type as the previous one, treated in dark brown. Height of the central figure: 0.32 m.

400 - Jabbaren (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - White painting of two figures with "round heads". In reality, their heads are red. On the right, note the "transparent skirt". Width of the depicted panel: 0.78 m.

442 - Ouan Bender (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - We return here to the realm of the "round heads" and a strong preference for the color white. The position is typical but not that of a worshiper. The posterior appendage might refer to a loincloth, though not specified. The fingers of the hands and the feet are well depicted. Height: 0.82 m. Note that working in Ouan Bender, strictly prohibited for tourists, requires special authorization from the director of the "Tassili National Park", authorization which Maximilien Bruggmann had.

443 - Ouan Bender (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - A figure with a "round head," drawn in black paint, partially erased. The figure holds a stick in its right hand. The left arm is firmly extended to the right. The feet are no longer visible. Height of the figure: 0.70 m.

444 - Ouan Bender (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Group of figures painted in white and outlined in black. Their activities are no longer identifiable. Central figure: 0.70 m in height.

451 - Ouan Bender (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - A complex scene. It is not possible to "classify" the depictions. A figure with a "round head" forms the main part of the painting. It is overlain on the left by a gazelle and on the right by a figure presumably following this gazelle. The figure measures 0.34 m from feet to head.

452 - Ouan Bender (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - In the center, two large antelopes painted in ochre are visible.

453 - Ouan Bender (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - A large white-painted mouflon, resembling the same animals associated with "round heads." A beautiful polychrome ensemble of bovines, antelopes, goats, and humans... From one mouflon horn to the other: 0.53 m.

471 - Ozeneare (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - A figure with a "round head," which, as a reminder, refers to Tin-Tazarift. Painted here in dark ochre, it wears a short tunic. Above, a finely painted ox in red ochre.

472 - Ozeneare (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Enlargement of the ox shown in photo 471. It measures 0.28 m from muzzle to tail. One can admire the fineness and accuracy of the painted line.

482 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Strange figures. The person on the right has a face resembling a pachyderm, though the trunk ends in a fork. He wears a belt with a long tail and holds a basket (?). Behind him, an individual with a belt threatens him with a club held high in the right hand. The basket held by the person on the right is 0.28 m wide. The animal on the left may be a goat-like creature (?).

483 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - This scene shocked many people, but it must be seen in the mysterious context of the “shelter-temple” that eludes our understanding. In fact, the interpretation is very difficult and, lacking a “key,” it boils down to assumptions tainted by our rationalism. The first figure, on the right, is seen in profile. It has only one leg, a horned head, and an oversized arm (?). Should we believe the protrusion from its belly is a penis? Or is it merely the continuation of the arm of the individual following it? This entire three-figure scene is mysterious and probably mythical. Time of the “round heads,” white painting bordered with red. Width of the depicted panel: 0.40 m.

484 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - “Tarzan”! Here we remain in the mythical, without knowing what the creators of these white paintings intended to tell us. The large figure on the right has powerful arms. To his left, a woman identified by her breasts raises her arms in the air. The individual preceding her holds a striped structure. Other paintings are even less identifiable. Chest width of the “gorilla”: 0.29 m.

485 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Red ochre painting with white outlines. Time of the “round heads.” Perhaps we are witnessing an intimate scene depicting a couple and their child. This is a valid hypothesis. The figure on the right wears striped pants. Note the lack of muscle mass in the thighs, in contrast to the black bovid archers.

486 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Red ochre painting. Time of the “round heads.” The figure on the left, in red ochre, shows a marked but not ithyphallic penis in the precise sense of the word. The individuals around him seem to be dancing. They wear a belt extended by an appendage on their backs. The patterns on the chest of those on the right suggest a garment.

487 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Time of the “round heads,” red painting with fine lines. The central figure seems to be standing between the legs of an animal, with the figure on the right also holding the leg of another animal. The central figure’s sex is indicated, while the figure on the left touches the animal’s right leg, at the same level as the central figure.

491 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - This large panel is actually 3.50 m wide and is entirely covered with overlapping or stacked paintings. Therefore, it is difficult to interpret. The overall design seems to belong to the "round head" period. On the left side and at the top, several circular objects are visible, extended downward by straps (?). At the top, two small rectangular protrusions are present. These might be shields. A figure holds a tilted spear. To its left, curious beings have round heads adorned with small patterns unrelated to anatomy. In the middle, a procession of small animals is heading right. Numerous human figures, of different sizes and mostly painted in white, are still identifiable.

492 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Enlarged detail of the previous fresco. Note, at the bottom center, the figure with the Mickey Mouse head.

495 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - From the same period, an entanglement of animals, figures, and symbols.

496 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Thick figure with too small arms. The body is indicated by clumsy strokes of paint. The head is no longer visible. In front of it, one can make out a figure painted in white.

497 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Finely outlined figure in dark ochre. Here, the loincloth is clearly visible, with a front and a back part. The same should apply to all representations where it is incomplete. In front of the figure, an oval shape is visible, with no plausible explanation. A large number of very small figures raises the question of the relationship that might exist between large and small beings?

498 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Extraordinary fresco painted over several periods. At the bottom, there is a parade of white mouflons mixed with figures painted in dark ochre. Bottom left, a familiar scene with figures painted in white. At the top, another scene, this time involving black shepherds fighting with their bows. On the left, behind a man with a clearly visible loincloth, one might infer a dead man.

499 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - This photograph is a very fine document and at the same time highlights the difficulty of analyzing its content. It all seems to belong to the "round head" phase, to which the left figure undoubtedly belongs. On the right, one can clearly distinguish a giraffe.

502 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Extraordinary bust of a character lavishly dressed with a kind of hat with a crest and well-dressed. The features are distinctly human. There is a fresco of similar individuals in Jabbaren. The women of this group do not wear this hairstyle.

505 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - The wife of Séfar, identifiable by her breasts, has a prominent belly which could indicate pregnancy: She wears a bracelet on each arm and holds with both hands an unidentified curved object. Height of the figure: 0.95 meters.

524 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). – Return to the time of the "round heads" with these stylized but refined paintings. A woman in the background watches the dance of two others, leaning to the right and wearing a loincloth. The one on the right wears curious white shin guards, flared at the bottom, two pieces of fabric tied to her arms, and a white headdress. She measures 0.24 m from head to foot.

525 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). – These extraordinary fashion engravings, in reality paintings, reveal much about a civilization of which we know nothing. These women (?) are dressed in blouses, trousers, and in two cases, "leggings".

526 - Séfar (Tassili-n'Ajjer). – Scene of a ritual dance. The polychrome figures: dark brown, red, white, light yellow, are richly dressed and coiffed. They appear to be holding a stick. The tallest dancer is 0.48 m tall.

537 - Tan-Zoumaïtak (Tassili n'Ajjer). - The dancers in ceremonial attire appear to wear long tunics, with the fabric band at the waist possibly forming a knot. If you look at the right hand of the left dancer, it seems to rest on the left mouflon, suggesting that the dancers and the mouflons were contemporaneous. Note the structure of the headdresses and the unique decoration of the heads. The arms bear numerous rings.

538 - Tan-Zoumaïtak (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Magnificent mouflon with typical horns finely adorned with a fine brush. From the "round heads" period, reminiscent of Séfar. On the right, a figure resembling a Medusa. Below, small bovids, one of which has a white disk. On the left, an unidentifiable animal, in the style of Séfar, with red contour and a white body. The mouflon itself is painted in dark brown. This photo, like the previous one, shows details of the beautiful panel already seen in Photo 4 in the introduction.

539 - Tan-Zoumaïtak (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - This red ochre painting shows, on the left, a small figure with abundant hair partially inserted into a circle from which strips hang. The animal on the right might be a dark brown sheep. The circle measures 0.20 m in diameter.

540 - Tan-Zoumaïtak (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - In the style of the "round-head" dancers in olive color. The one on the left extends her arms toward a baby (?). Her feet appear to touch an antelope. On the right, a figure holds a stick; above, another, larger and older. Height of this figure: 1.10 m.

541 - Tan-Zoumaïtak (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Always the same adorned people with "round heads." This one is painted in light brown with white dots. Curious drop-shaped ornaments hang from the arms: a large one at the wrist, two small ones attached at the top of the arm. The figure on the right is painted in light brown. Height of the adorned figure: 0.72 m.

542 - Tan-Zoumaïtak (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - The splendid shelter of Tan-Zoumaïtak, to which Henri Lhote attributes 28 m². The paintings captured in the previous photographs can be recognized here. This dome-shaped shelter was worthy of inspiring religious feelings.

543 - Tan-Zoumaïtak (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Facing the previous shelter, on rocks, there are other testimonies from the Pastoral Period. The cow on the right is remarkable for the precision of its udder. Length of this cow: 0.30 m.

558 - Tin-Tazarift (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Fresco depicting figures painted in brown ochre, with round heads and two small antennas. It is unclear why two of them are shown lying down. The archer, at the bottom right, holds a double-curved bow.

559 - Tin-Tazarift (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - The same enlarged archer holds an arrow in his left hand.

560 - Tin-Tazarift (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Enlargement of the "swimmer" from photo 558.

563 - Tin-Tazarift (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - A figure painted in light brown ochre, seemingly seated. It belongs to the "round heads" period, wearing a loincloth and arm rings. The ovoid structure with a dark center, towards which the subject extends one arm, has no clear explanation. Height of the figure: 0.45 m.

564 - Tin-Tazarift (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Panel containing, among other things, the figure from photo 561. In the center, a small haloed figure. To the right, partly hidden by a bovine painted in light ochre, a large figure. The discovery of four fish complements the find of fossil fish bones on the ground. To the left, two white mouflons. All painted in light or dark brown.

565 - Tin-Tazarift (Tassili-n'Ajjer). - Amazing painting of a "round head" figure showing a protuberance on the skull. Two curved appendages extend from each arm. In the left hand, the figure holds a long object with a sharp base, terminating in a small oblong mass at the top. In the right hand, it can be inferred that he holds a puzzle. A dagger is visible at the belt; in front of this "warrior", another figure, barely discernible, possibly from a different era. Below, two small paintings of negroid figures. Everything is painted in brown ochre. The large figure measures 0.86 m in height.