In the early 1930's, a French officer made a sensational discovery in the south-east of the present-day Republic of Algeria. In the Tassili highlands, lie found rock paintings which scientists have since confirmed as the oldest examples of Saharan pictographic art. Over 15,000 paintings, drawings and engravings have so far been catalogued, the oldest dating back to around 10,000 years. Together, they form a vast picture gallery documenting life in the area in prehistoric times.

on this subject: Cave Drawing of Tassili on the World Heritage website