Working Together to Digitally Preserve the Heritage of East Africa

Documenting the Rock Art of Somaliland

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

The caves of Laas Geel, Dhagah Kureh, and Dhagah Nabi Galay lie just 30-45 minutes outside of Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. 

somaliland_rockartCyArk

The paintings found there are considered to be some of the best preserved Neolithic rock art in all of Africa. In September 2013, CyArk and the Horn Heritage Charity digitally documented the site with laser scanning and photogrammetry.   

Somaliland_photogrammetryCyArk

Somali professionals were trained in digital photogrammetry with support from ICCROM, the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property and the Swiss Government.

Somaliland_laser_scanningCyArk

Three sites were captured by overlapping multiple photos and combining these with data captured by LiDAR laser scanning.

SOmaliland_data processingCyArk

Workshop participants worked with CyArk to align the data together so that it could be used to manage the site. 

Rock Art of Somaliland 3D modelCyArk

Explore a 3D model of one of the rock art panels at the Laas Geel rock art site.

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The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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