Discovery of New Fish Depictions in the Central Sahara (Tassili n'Ajjer Plateau – Algeria)

During the Holocene, around ten thousand years ago, the Central Sahara experienced a distinctly humid phase. At that time, torrential floods flowed through major wadis and rivers, forming vast lakes. The climate resembled that of today's African savanna. Along the shores of these large water bodies lived various animals, including hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, elephants, crocodiles, birds, and fish. Humans also lived there, relying on fishing, hunting, and gathering. Recent research has produced remarkable findings about the diet of those early inhabitants. Excavations revealed that fish were a key component of their subsistence. These people recorded their ideas and activities through thousands of rock engravings and paintings. Among these are depictions that address the subject of fishing and aquatic life. However, despite the importance of this topic, only a limited number of studies have examined it in depth. This article contributes by cataloging a number of fish depictions. It also revisits earlier studies where the fish species were not clearly identified. These images were re-examined using an innovative digital technology known as the DStretch system, which enabled a clearer understanding of the forms represented.