Dabous Giraffe Petroglyphs
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Deep in the heart of the Sahara Desert, amidst the scorching sands and towering dunes, lies a remarkable archaeological treasure — the Dabous Giraffes. They can be found on a sandstone outcrop in the Ténéré desert in the first foothills of the Aïr Mountains in North Central Niger.
These gigantic giraffe carvings were first recorded by French archaeologist Christian Dupuy in 1987, and subsequently documented by David Coulson in 1997 who was on a photographic expedition to the site.
At an astonishing 6 meters (20 feet) in height, the Dabous Giraffes are the largest known animal petroglyphs in the world. Etched with intricate detail, these majestic carvings depict a male giraffe towering over a smaller female, showing off their elongated necks and distinctive patterns in stone. But the Dabous Giraffes are not the only wonders that adorn these ancient rock canvases. In the surrounding area, archaeologists have discovered a staggering 828 images engraved onto the sandstone, including depictions of cattle, ostriches, antelopes, lions, rhinoceroses, and even camels.
