Gueldaman caves, Prehistoric caves in Akbou, Algeria.
The Gueldaman caves are a network of natural caverns stretching along the Soummam valley in northern Algeria with multiple chambers of varying sizes. The rock formations show different geological layers and passages that connect the various parts of the system.
Human communities occupied these caves during the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, leaving behind tools and other evidence of their daily lives. The site served as a shelter for inhabitants across multiple centuries of habitation.
The name Gueldaman comes from an ancient Numidian water deity, showing how these caves held spiritual meaning for people who lived in this region long ago.
Visiting requires proper hiking equipment and hiring a local guide is strongly advised for safe exploration through the cave network. The terrain is uneven and conditions can change depending on weather and season.
A drought thousands of years ago forced inhabitants to abandon the caves, which caused their belongings to remain well preserved in the sediment layers. This sudden departure left the archaeological record remarkably intact for modern researchers to study.
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