Places, monuments, and landscape: evidence from the Holocene central Sahara

A marked dichotomy between mountain contexts and lowlands emerges from the Holocene central Sahara, with only mountainous areas exhibiting phenomena of monumentality. This study analyzes case studies from Tadrart Acacus (southwestern Libya), revealing that earlier occupation sites—ranging from early Holocene hunter-gatherers to the first cattle herders (c. 8900-6400 BP)—possess characteristics of social relevance and temporality that suggest they were 'places to be remembered.' The research highlights the significance of monumental features, such as megalithic stone monuments with diverse architectural traits, which date from approximately 6000 uncalibrated years BP onwards. While not exhaustive, this evidence contributes to broader discussions on monumentality in Africa.

di Lernia, S. (2013). Places, monuments, and landscape: evidence from the Holocene central Sahara. Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa, 48(2), 173–192. https://doi.org/10.1080/0067270x.2013.788867