Rock Art Research

Painted and engraved rock art sites in Libya represent one of the country’s most valuable tourist assets and form a crucial part of the wider cultural heritage of the Sahara. However, with the rapid growth of industry and tourism, degradation and destruction of the rock art through human interference is increasing every year. Recent work in the Wadi al-Ajal in south-west Libya indicates the potential for identifying previously undocumented sites and also demonstrates the threats to rock art in Libya and the Sahara. Within the current context of developing tourism, the need for a coherent, informed approach to ensure long-term protection and sustainability of rock art sites is discussed and broad recommendations are proposed, based on the resources available in the Wadi al-Ajal.