Detail of painted camels on a rock face, legs crossed as if they are walking with another small calf between them and surrounded by 25 red cows and 4 human figures with arms outstretched and women wearing skirts.

Camels were introduced to the Sahara around 2,000 years ago and became indispensable for desert communities as a source of transport for people/commodities and sustenance. They allowed the improvement of wide cultural and economic networks, transforming the Sahara into a key link between the Mediterranean Sea and Sub-Saharan Africa. A symbol of wealth and prestige, Saharan peoples recognized camels’ importance and expressed it through paintings and engravings across the desert, leaving a wonderful document of their societies.

This model was created using original photographs (6 total archive photos) from the African Rock Art Image Project, supported by the Arcadia Fund. For more information visit: http://africanrockart.britishmuseum.org/#/article/camels-in-saharan-rock-art