Laas Geel (Somali Laas Geel) is a complex of caves and rock shelters in Somaliland famous for its recent discovery of cave paintings. Somali ( Af Soomaali, الصوماليه is a member of the East Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by ethnic Somalis Cave paintings are Paintings on Cave walls and ceilings and the term is used especially for those dating to Prehistoric times The caves are located in a countryside outside Hargeisa. History Prehistoric inhabitants The city is home to Neolithic Cave paintings recently discovered named Laas Geel. 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. The Horn of Africa (alternatively Northeast Africa, and sometimes Somali Peninsula; shortened to HOA) is a Peninsula in East Africa The 3rd millennium BC spans the Early to Middle Bronze Age. It represents a period of time in which Imperialism, or the desire to conquer grew to prominence In the 8th millennium BC, Agriculture becomes widely practiced in the Fertile Crescent and Anatolia. The 9th millennium BC marks the beginning of the Neolithic period
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Introduction
The Laas Geel site contains granite caves sheltering about ten rock alcoves decorated with Neolithic cave paintings. Granite (ˈɡrænɪt is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, Felsic, igneous rock. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos The caves are located outside Hargeisa, in an area encompassing a nomadic village, the Naasa Hablood hills. History Prehistoric inhabitants The city is home to Neolithic Cave paintings recently discovered named Laas Geel. Naasa-Hablood ( Somali meaning Girls' Breasts) are twin hills situated on the outskirts of the Hargeisa, Somalia. The site overlooks a wide district of countryside, where nomads graze their livestock and wild antelopes roam the vast landscape. Livestock is the term used to refer (singularly or plurally to a Domesticated Animal intentionally reared in an agricultural setting to produce such as Food Antelope are Ruminant hoofed Mammals of the family Bovidae in the order of Even-toed ungulates.
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. A monkey is any member of either the New World monkeys or Old World monkeys two of the three groupings of Simian Primates the third group being The site is now guarded by the local villagers and the Ministry of Tourism. The Politics and Government of Somaliland take place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic Republic, with the President [2]
Discovery
During November and December 2002, an archaeological survey was carried out by a French team in Somaliland. 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). The 5th millennium BC saw the spread of Agriculture from the Near East throughout southern and central Europe The 2nd millennium BC marks the transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age. During the course of the survey, the French archaeological team discovered the Laas Geel cave paintings, encompassing an area of ten rock alcoves (caves). Cave paintings are Paintings on Cave walls and ceilings and the term is used especially for those dating to Prehistoric times 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 Somalilandese 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. Cave paintings are Paintings on Cave walls and ceilings and the term is used especially for those dating to Prehistoric times The team undertook a detailed study of the paintings and their prehistoric context. Stone Age Paleolithic See also Paleolithic, Recent African Origin, Early Homo sapiens, Early human migrations "Paleolithic" [3]
There are a number of other sites in the area around Hargeisa with similar cave paintings. History Prehistoric inhabitants The city is home to Neolithic Cave paintings recently discovered named Laas Geel. Cave paintings are Paintings on Cave walls and ceilings and the term is used especially for those dating to Prehistoric times
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 plastron is the nearly flat part of the shell structure of a Turtle or Tortoise, what one would call the belly similar in composition to the Carapace The paintings not only show cows, there are also an image of a domesticated dog, several paintings of canidae and even a giraffe. The Canidae (ˈkænədiː ′kanə′dē family is a part of the order Carnivora within the Mammals (Class Mammalia The giraffe ( Giraffa camelopardalis) is an African Even-toed ungulate Mammal, the tallest of all land-living Animal Species [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. Somalia ( Soomaaliya; الصومال) officially the Somali Republic ( Jamhuuriyadda Soomaaliya, جمهورية الصومال) and formerly known as the
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 Somaliland's Minister for Culture and Tourism, Osman Bile Ali. A minister or a secretary is a Politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional Government. Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate" generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel
Simon Reeve went to the cave paintings as part of his television programme called Places That Don't Exist. Simon Reeve (born 1972 is a British author and TV presenter. Based in London he specialises in international Terrorism, Conflict resolution Holidays in the Danger Zone Places That Don't Exist is a five-part BBC Four series on breakaway states and unrecognised nations devised written and presented [3]. He was amazed at the excellent preservation and vibrant colors of the paintings. He quoted:
| “ | 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. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos Rock art is a term in Archaeology for any man-made markings made on natural stone | ” |
Somaliland's Minister for Tourism Osman Bile Ali who showed Simon Reeve the site, described the Laas Geel cave paintings as beautiful. A minister or a secretary is a Politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional Government. [4]
The paintings are now part of the future tourist attractions of Somaliland and they are considered by the Somali people as a national treasure and a major tourist attraction. Somalis ( Soomaaliyeed, الصوماليون are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula.
Gallery
 Depiction of a ceremonial cow |
 a human worshiping a cow |
 a herd of cows |
 one of the alcoves at Laas Gaal |
References
- ^ The Journal of African Archeology Volume 1. 2 (2003) Chapter 3
- ^ The Journal of African Archeology Volume 1. 2 (2003) Chapter 3
- ^ Places That Don't Exist Documentary series, episode 1 - Somaliland
- ^ BBC News, This World, available online at [1], accessed on August 25, 2006
External links
- Laas Gaa'l, Somaliland attractions.
- Simon Reeve, Laas Gaa'l.
- Flickr Photostream by Najeeb.
- The Journal of African Archeology, Laas Geel
- Somaliland Heritage.
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