New Rock Art Site
in the Western Gilf Kebir

Late January 2003 Zarzora Expeditions and Jacopo Foggini separately announced the discovery of a major new rock art site in the Western Gilf Kebir. In February 2003 we have located and visited this amazing shelter. This page is intended to provide a preview of the site.

The site is a large semicircular shelter, not unlike the big cave at Wadi Sora, just even larger in dimensions. The rear wall is fully covered with paintings of the classic Wadi Sora style.

A unique feature of the site is the innumerable negative hand prints, and the many strange headless animals of which one damaged example remains at Wadi Sora (and another well preserved at a site nearby). It has been suggested that perhaps it's a mythical 'rain creature'. There are several little 'swimmer' figures associated with the strange creatures.

There is an immense amount of fine detail, full publication will take several volumes and hundreds of photos.

Another unique feature is the combination of engravings and paintings. There are even figures that are half painted, half engraved.