Gaanlibah, Archaeological site in Hargeisa District, Somalia.
Gaanlibah is an archaeological site in the mountainous terrain east of Hargeisa with numerous rock caves whose walls are covered with ancient drawings. The rock art shows various animals and human figures carved or painted into the stone surfaces.
The site shows traces of human settlement from ancient times, with petroglyphs that are thousands of years old. These markings on the stone suggest the region was inhabited and used for a long time.
The name means 'Lion's Paw' in Somali, linking the place to the wild nature of this region. The rock art shows scenes from the daily lives of ancient peoples and tells of their relationship with the landscape.
The place lies in remote mountainous countryside and requires careful planning for a visit. It is strongly recommended to hire a local guide and make arrangements in advance to reach it safely.
The caves contain artworks that may represent early communication methods, suggesting that people here exchanged symbolic messages. This form of visual language could reflect one of humanity's oldest known communication systems.
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