Rock Art Sites of Somaliland - Laas Geel

In September 2013, CyArk digitally documented Laas Geel, Dhagah Nabi Galay and Dhagah Kureh rock shelters using laser scanning and photogrammetry. The project was conducted in partnership with the Horn Heritage Charity, a nongovernmental organization that works to protect and promote the archaeological heritage of the Horn of Africa and ICCROM, the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property. CyArk also provided a training workshop to heritage professionals from Somaliland. The expedition was made possible through a generous donation from the Government of Switzerland. The complex cave and rock shelters of Laas Geel, Dhagah Kureh, and Dhagah Nabi Galay lie just 30-45 minutes outside of Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, a self-declared republic and autonomous region of Somalia. Exhibiting outstanding Neolithic rock art, the sites' cave paintings are considered to be some of the best preserved rock paintings in all of Africa. The images provide valuable information about some of the earliest pastoralists living in this region. The paintings, dated to the third and second millennia BC, depict the herding of humpless cows, sheep and goats, as well as the hunting of antelopes, giraffes, and other wild animals. The Laas Geel shelters feature poly chrome painted panels that are considered to be some of the oldest known rock art in the Horn of Africa. The scenes depict human figures and animals painted in bright reds, whites, yellows, and sometimes black. In many cases the human figures are shown with arms outstretched in postures that demonstrate reverence and perhaps even worship which may indicate the important status ascribed to cattle in this pastoral culture. External Project Link: https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/5wLCLQamXaTLLw Additional Info Link: https://cyark.org/projects/rock-art-sites-of-somaliland

2013年9月，CyArk通过激光扫描（laser scanning）与摄影测量法（photogrammetry），对拉斯盖尔（Laas Geel）、达加赫·纳比·加莱（Dhagah Nabi Galay）及达加赫·库雷赫（Dhagah Kureh）三处岩石掩体开展数字化记录工作。本项目由非洲之角遗产慈善机构（Horn Heritage Charity，一家致力于保护与推广非洲之角考古遗产的非政府组织）与国际文化财产保护与修复研究中心（International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property，简称ICCROM）合作开展。CyArk还为来自索马里兰的遗产从业者提供了培训讲习班。本次考察项目得以顺利实施，得益于瑞士政府的慷慨捐助。

拉斯盖尔、达加赫·库雷赫与达加赫·纳比·加莱的复合型洞穴与岩石掩体群，坐落于索马里兰首都哈尔格萨（Hargeisa）郊外仅30至45分钟车程的位置。索马里兰是一个自行宣布独立的共和国，同时为索马里的自治地区。

该遗址群拥有卓越的新石器时代（Neolithic）岩石艺术，其洞穴壁画被认为是全非洲保存最为完好的岩画作品之一。这些图像为探究该区域最早的游牧民（pastoralists）群体提供了极具价值的参考信息。

这批壁画的年代可追溯至公元前第三与第二千纪，画面展现了无峰牛、绵羊与山羊的牧养活动，以及羚羊、长颈鹿与其他野生动物的狩猎场景。拉斯盖尔掩体的多色绘画板面（polychrome painted panels），被认为是非洲之角已知最古老的岩画作品之一。

这些画面以亮红、白、黄等色调绘制，部分场景还辅以黑色颜料，呈现出人物与动物形象。在诸多画面中，人物双臂舒展，呈现出崇敬乃至礼拜的姿态，这或许暗示牛在该游牧文化中被赋予了极高的社会地位。

外部项目链接：https://artsandculture.google.com/exhibit/5wLCLQamXaTLLw
附加信息链接：https://cyark.org/projects/rock-art-sites-of-somaliland