Dabous Giraffes, Prehistoric rock engravings in Tenere Desert, Niger.
The Dabous Giraffes are two large giraffe petroglyphs carved into sandstone in the Sahara, with the male figure standing about 5.4 meters (18 feet) tall and the female positioned behind it. The surface shows deep engravings that required careful hand carving techniques to create.
These petroglyphs were created between 7,000 and 8,000 years ago, when the Sahara was still grassland teeming with wildlife. The carvings document a time when people regularly saw the animals they depicted in their daily surroundings.
The carvings show artistic details like body spots and lines connecting the mouths to human figures below, reflecting how early people used rock as a canvas for their creative expression.
The site is located between Agadez and Arlit towns in the desert and requires guidance from local Tuareg communities who maintain a presence in the area. Visitors should prepare for harsh conditions and work with local guides to reach this remote location safely.
The larger giraffe holds the record as the world's largest known animal petroglyph, created through deep engraving and precise low-relief carving methods. This combination of techniques allowed ancient artists to achieve such a massive figure with impressive detail.
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