Wadi Matkhendush
Wadi Matkhendush is a long, rocky valley on the Messak (Mesak) plateau in southwest Libya. It is famous for thousands of prehistoric rock carvings and paintings made by people who lived here when the Sahara was much wetter. The site gives a clear view into life in the Neolithic period and later times.
Huge open-air gallery of rock art. The valley walls and rock faces are covered with carved and painted figures, including large animals and human scenes. The style and depth of the carvings are considered some of the finest in North Africa.
Ancient scenes of a greener Sahara. Many panels show elephants, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles and long-horned bovines. These images tell us that the region once supported lakes, rivers and large wildlife, unlike the dry desert seen today. Some of the art dates back several thousand years, to the Neolithic period.
Large scale and variety. The rock art stretches along many kilometres of the wadi and includes both deep relief engravings and painted scenes, with subjects ranging from hunting and dancing to domestic animals. This variety makes the site especially important for archaeologists and visitors