Mobilising stone : investigating relations of materiality, movement and corporality in Holocene Saharan rock-art
This project investigates Saharan pastoralist rock-art (7500-3000BP), with a particular focus on the engravings of the Messak Plateau in southwest Libya. Taking an anthropological approach, the art is examined within the context of the lives of its creators - transhumant cattle-herders who occupied the plateau seasonally. Drawing from fieldwork in Libya together with data from multiple expeditions in the Sahara, the study addresses a major lacuna in Saharan research by focusing on materially constituted, as-lived dimensions at the micro scale. A fundamental but archaeologically elusive aspect of lived experience is a consideration of 'movement', both physical and esoteric. Its incorporation is central to this project, forming a multi-aspected theoretical framework and a methodological tool. Augmented by input from specialists in geomorphology, pastoralism, stone sculpting and animal behaviour, this movement-driven focus has produced a more developed picture of the Messak herder lives, advancing our understanding of these particular non-text, somatic societies. A singular contribution is the creation of a hypothetical model for small-scale, quotidian pastoralist practices, which expands upon the archaeological
Waldock, Victoria
Saharan Rock Art ; African Rock Art ; Ethnoarchaeology ; African Pastoralism ; Relational Ontologies ; Rock Art ; Sahara
Mobilising stone : investigating relations of materiality, movement and corporality in Holocene Saharan rock-art. This project investigates Saharan pastoralist rock-art (7500-3000BP), with a particular focus on the engravings of the Messak Plateau in southwest Libya. Taking an anthropological approach, the art is examined within the context of the lives of its creators - transhumant cattle-herders who occupied the plateau seasonally. Drawing from fieldwork in Libya together with data from multiple expeditions in the Sahara, the study addresses a major lacuna in Saharan research by focusing on materially constituted, as-lived dimensions at the micro scale. A fundamental but archaeologically elusive aspect of lived experience is a consideration of 'movement', both physical and esoteric. Its incorporation is central to this project, forming a multi-aspected theoretical framework and a methodological tool. Augmented by input from specialists in geomorphology, pastoralism, stone sculpting and animal behaviour, this movement-driven focus has produced a more developed picture of the Messak herder lives, advancing our understanding of these particular non-text, somatic societies. A singular contribution is the creation of a hypothetical model for small-scale, quotidian pastoralist practices, which expands upon the archaeological
stone investigating relation materiality movement holocene saharan rock_art project_investigate saharan pastoralist rock art particular_focus plateau southwest libya taking anthropological art examine within_context life creator cattle occupy plateau seasonally drawing fieldwork libya together data multiple expedition sahara study address major lacuna saharan focus materially constitute lived dimension micro_scale fundamental archaeologically elusive aspect live_experience consideration movement physical esoteric incorporation central project form multi theoretical_framework methodological_tool input specialist geomorphology pastoralism stone animal behaviour movement driven focus produce developed picture herder life advance particular non text society singular creation hypothetical model small_scale quotidian pastoralist practice expand_upon archaeological