Deep in the Sahara, ancient rock art depicts a fleet of boats and cattle, providing a glimpse of the desert's green past before climate change transformed the region thousands of years ago.
The site's location is surprising for two reasons: It's far from the nearest body of water, Lake Nubia, which sits more than 60 miles away, and the arid landscape is not ideal for raising livestock like the large-horned cattle featured in the drawings, the study authors said. However, researchers think the artworks' subject matter — particularly a single drawing of a cow being led by a herder — provides clear evidence that this harsh landscape was once a far more hospitable grassland."This is one of the best classes of evidence for establishing climate change in the region, a period which scientists call the 'African humid period,'" Cooper said.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Because many of the drawings were chiseled into the rock, archaeologists think that whoever created them was likely in the area for a while.