Laas Geel

Laas Geel
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Some of the paintings in the Laas Geel caves

Laas Geel (Somali Laas Geel) is a complex of caves and rock shelters in Somalia famous for its recent discovery of cave paintings. The caves are located in a countryside outside Hargeisa. They contain some of the earliest known art in the Horn of Africa and the African continent in general, dating back to somewhere between 3,000 and 8,000–9,000 BCE.

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1 Introduction
2 Discovery
3 Description
4 Miscellaneous
5 Gallery
6 References
7 External links

Introduction

The Laas Geel site contains granite caves sheltering about ten rock alcoves decorated with Neolithic cave paintings. The caves are located outside Hargeisa, in an area encompassing a nomadic village, the Naasa Hablood hills. The site overlooks a wide district of countryside, where nomads graze their livestock and wild antelopes roam the vast landscape.

The local nomads used the caves as a shelter when it rained and never paid much attention to the paintings. Recently, a troop of monkeys were based there, but have since been chased away.^{citation needed} The site is now guarded by the local villagers and the Ministry of Tourism.

Discovery

During November and December 2002, an archaeological survey was carried out by a French team in northern Somalia. The reason for this was to search for rock shelters and caves containing stratified archaeological infills capable of documenting the period when production economy appeared in this part of the Horn of Africa (circa 5,000 and 2,000 BCE). During the course of the survey, the French archaeological team discovered the Laas Geel cave paintings, encompassing an area of ten rock alcoves (caves). The paintings, in an excellent state of preservation, show ancient humans of the area raising their hands and worshipping humpless cows with large lyre-shaped horns. ^[1] However, the rock art had been known to the local Somali people for centuries before the French discovery. Yet, the existence of the sites had not been broadcast to the international community.

Furthermore, during November 2003, a mission was planned to go back to the Laas Geel cave paintings. The team undertook a detailed study of the paintings and their prehistoric context.

There are a number of other sites in the area around Hargeisa with similar cave paintings.

Description

The cave paintings are thought to be one of the best preserved cave paintings in Africa. The paintings represent cows in ceremonial robes accompanied by stocky humans (believed to be inhabitants of the region). The necks of the cows are embellished with a kind of plastron, some of the cows are even wearing decorative robes. The paintings not only show cows, there are also an image of a domesticated dog, several paintings of canidae and even a giraffe. ^[2]

Miscellaneous

The paintings are excellently preserved; even under the scorching sun and the past wars that occurred in the region, the paintings have survived intact, and retain their clear outlines and strong colors.

So far, there has been no worldwide publicity considering the Laas Geel cave paintings, hidden from the hustle and bustle of modern life. However, the caves are threatened by people coming to the caves and destroying the peace and serenity, although a reasonable number of tourists and locals visit the caves. One famous journalist and author visited the caves with Osman Bile Ali, the Minister for Culture and Tourism of the northwestern Somaliland region of Somalia.

Simon Reeve visited the cave paintings as part of his television programme called Places That Don't Exist.^[3]. Amazed at the excellent preservation and vibrant colors of the paintings, he said:

Laas Ga'al, it transpires, is probably the most significant Neolithic rock painting site in the whole of Africa.

and:

Few people know that Somaliland is home to such treasures.

Ali, who showed Reeve the site, described the Laas Geel cave paintings as beautiful.^[4]

The paintings are now part of the future tourist attractions of Somalia, and are considered by the Somali people to be a national treasure and a major tourist attraction.