Laas Geel

Laas Geel

The Laas Geel cave formations are located on the outskirts of Hargeisa in the rural Maroodi Jeex region of Somalia. They include the earliest known cave paintings of the domesticated African Aurochs on the Horn of Africa. The rock art of Laas Geel is assumed to date from around 3500-2500 BC. An archaeological survey was carried out in Somaliland in November and December 2002 by a team of French researchers. The aim of the expedition was to search for rock caves and shelters containing archaeological sediments and fillings to document the historical period when a productive economy emerged in this part of the Horn of Africa, which was between about 5000 and 2000 BC. In the course of the survey, the archaeological team discovered the Laas Geel cave paintings, which cover an area of ten rock alcoves. The rock paintings, in excellent condition, portray wild animals and decorated cattle. They also show shepherds, who are thought to be the makers of the paintings. These cave paintings are among the most vivid rock paintings in Africa. The rock paintings are in the same typical Ethiopian-Arabic style as the Dhambalin and Karinhegane cave paintings, also in Somaliland. Somaliland in general is known to be home to many such archaeological sites and megalithic structures. In addition to similar rock paintings, ancient structures have also been found. However, these ancient structures have not yet been sufficiently excavated, which would help shed more light on local history and facilitate their preservation for posterity.