Protecting Palaeolithic rock art in Egypt

In 2007, a team led by Adel Kelany of the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) discovered a stunning assemblage of petroglyphs near Wadi Abu Subeira, dating to the Late Palaeolithic era (c. 15-20,000 years ago), representing one of the most spectacular rock-art discoveries in Egypt to be made in recent years.

Adel Kamel (right) and Adel Kelany of the SCA Aswan recording rock-art at Subeira. Photo: Per Storemyr

modern mining in the wadi is increasingly threatening the survival of the Subeira rock-art and without intervention along with suitable protection it could be on the verge of destruction

A rich rock art location

Since then, ongoing surveys in Wadi Abu Subeira near Aswan have shown that the initial find was only the tip of the iceberg revealing itself to be one of the richest “Ice-Age” art locations in North Africa.

However, modern mining in the wadi is increasingly threatening the survival of the Subeira rock-art and without intervention along with suitable protection it could be on the verge of destruction.

Calcite deposits (white) high up in the wadi slope; evidence for a higher Nile at the end of the Palaeolithic. Photo: Per Storemyr

A once lush habitat

The Nile waters 15-20,000 years ago were much higher than they are today and the broad Wadi Abu Subeira may have once been an inlet stretching several kilometres into the Eastern Desert. This would have provided a lush habitat for wildlife in an otherwise hyper arid environment and a good place for humans to fish, hunt and access the interior of the desert and perhaps even the Red Sea.

It was along this inlet that Late Palaeolithic people pecked images on stone of aurochs (wild ox), hartebeest (antelope), fish and hippopotami along with a very large, beautifully executed Nubian ibex (publication forthcoming).

Over the millennia, erosion along the slopes of the wadi has probably destroyed much of the rock-art and most survivors are now to be found on loose boulders and slabs. However, some are still in-situ, implying that it may still be possible to reconstruct site distribution.

Comparable to Qurta

The Wadi Abu Subeira motifs are comparable to the better-known site of Qurta situated 50 km to the north – where Dirk Huyge and his Belgian team recently confirmed that this particular type of rock-art belongs to the Late Palaeolithic era. (Oldest rock art in Egypt discovered, Past Horizons, November 20, 2011).  This makes it contemporary with Ice-Age art in Europe – especially the Late Magdalenian period.

It is therefore vital to safeguard the Subeira rock-art and associated archaeological sites for future research in order to try to establish if there was any contact between North Africa and Europe in the Late Palaeolithic. According to Dirk Huyge “it introduces a new set of challenges to archaeological thought”.

Late Palaeolithic auroch. Photo: Per Storemyr

Mining – an ongoing threat to the archaeology

Wadi Abu Subeira was an important mineral source as far back as the Palaeolithic, rich in iron ore, haematite and ochre. Lately though, iron mining in the wadi has greatly intensified and the new concessions are so extensive that they may effectively wipe out nearly all the archaeological sites in the wadi.

Adel Kelany and his team have developed an ongoing relationship with the clay mining companies already operating in the area to ensure as little destruction to the archaeology as possible. Many of the archaeological sites are also guarded by SCA personnel and some are fenced off in order to prevent mining attempts and robbery.

Kelany admits that large-scale iron mine concessions represent a much more difficult prospect and he and his team try to maintain a constant dialogue with the companies and various authorities about the need to protect archaeological sites. Although they have the strength of the powerful Egyptian antiquities law behind them, economic interests make up a powerful force and persuading  mining companies to stop – or indeed not to start – working in the vicinity of such sites is proving to be a major challenge.

View Larger Map

The map shows:

• Green: Rough outline of archaeological sites, including Late Palaeolithic rock art
• Dots: Selected archaeological sites
• Red: Modern stone quarrying (some places discontinued).
• Red triangles: Spots of modern clay and iron mining, greatly intensified since 2010-2011
• Blue: New concessions for iron mining

Source: Per Storemyr Archaeology & Conservation Services

More information:

• Storemyr, P., Kelany, A., Negm, M. A., Tohami, A. (2008). More “Lascaux along the Nile”? Possible Late Palaeolithic rock art in Wadi Abu Subeira, Upper Egypt. Sahara, 19, 155-158.
• Kelany, A. In press. More Late Palaeolithic rock art at Wadi Abu Subeira, Upper Egypt. Annales du Service des Antiquites de l’Egypte.
• ‘Lascaux along the Nile’: Late Pleistocene rock art in Egypt – Antiquity article on Qurta