Chariots in Saharan rock art: An aesthetic and cognitive review

Abstract

There are estimated to be around 1200 depictions of painted and engraved chariots in Saharan rock art, a number which has doubled in recent years. However, because of the nature of the environmental conditions in the Sahara, the chariot is regarded as having played a minor technological and cultural role, and archaeologists have been criticised for attributing too much importance to these images. This enquiry focuses on the aesthetic component of these depictions, addressing the variation in chariot representations. In reviewing the significance of these depictions beyond their technological significance, the aim is to consider how they functioned socially, culturally and cognitively within a Saharan context.