The Incredibly Well-Preserved Cave Paintings of Somaliland

Art that rocks

Rock art in the naturally occurring rock shelters in Somaliland by CyArkCyArk

Hargeisa is the capital of Somaliland, an autonomous region of Somalia. Around 30-45 minutes outside of the city lie the caves of Laas Geel, Dhagah Kureh, and Dhagah Nabi Galay.  

The Neolithic rock art on the walls of the caves are from the third and second millennia BC and are considered to be some of the best preserved rock paintings in all of Africa.  

A pictograph on the wall of a rock art site in Somalia by CyArkCyArk

The outstanding paintings show the herding of humpless cows, sheep and goats. 

Technical training while scanning the rock art in Somaliland by CyArkCyArk

In September 2013, CyArk digitally documented the incredible rock shelters using laser scanning and photogrammetry. 

A pictograph on the wall of a rock art site in Somalia by CyArkCyArk

The project was done in partnership with the Horn Heritage Charity and ICCROM.  

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