Image Gallery: Ancient Rock Art of Sudan

Crescent moon

rock art showing a crescent moon

(Image credit: Courtesy of Tim Karberg/Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.)

Here a rock etched with patterns forming a crescent moon and orb, an example of another piece of rock art discovered at Wadi Abu Dom in northern Sudan.

Cattle drawing

Rock art showing the figure of a cattle

(Image credit: Courtesy of Tim Karberg/Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.)

The ancient artists did not use paint to create their "drawings," and instead carved the figures directly into the rock. To get a better view of the art, this cattle etching is shown on a white background.

Rock gong

A rock gong discovered in northern Sudan.

(Image credit: Courtesy of Tim Karberg/Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.)

In the arid Sudan valley, the team also found rock gongs (like the one shown), which were essentially large rocks that would've been smacked with a small rock to make a sound.

Ancient monastery

Rock art showing an ancient church.

(Image credit: Courtesy of Tim Karberg/Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.)

Shown on a white background, this rock art, discovered in Wadi Abu Dom, reveals a church that researchers say may depict a nearby ancient monastery called al-Ghazali.

Dragon slayer?

Rock art showing a knight riding a horned animal.

(Image credit: Courtesy of Tim Karberg/Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.)

This piece of rock art found in Wadi Abu Dom depicts a knight riding a horned animal. There's a chance the armed rider may be a legendary soldier named St. George who was said to have slain a dragon.

Live Science Staff
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