La poterie néolithique du Sahara

Terres Touareg

Neolithic pottery in the Algerian Sahara

The Saharan region, particularly in the Algerian Sahara, is a place rich in history where man has adapted to his environment since the Neolithic period.
During this period, they developed techniques such as agriculture, animal husbandry and rock art. Among these innovations, pottery played a central role in the evolution of human societies, particularly among the Tuareg people who inhabited these regions.

What is the Neolithic period?

The Neolithic is a pivotal phase in human history, marked by profound changes. This period, which began around the 9th millennium BC in the Near East, gradually spread to Europe and Africa. The Algerian Sahara, with its famous sites such as Tassili n’Ajjer, bears witness to this transition.

The major innovations of the Neolithic include agriculture, animal husbandry and the beginnings of sedentarisation. Characteristic tools such as polished stone axes and adzes mark a turning point compared with the carved stone tools of the Palaeolithic.

The invention of pottery in the Algerian Sahara

In North Africa, the Neolithic period emerged around the 9th millennium BC, influenced by the techniques and know-how of the Nile Valley. A major discovery was made in 1965 in the Hoggar massif, where fragments of pottery dating back 9,000 years were found. These discoveries are among the oldest traces of pottery in the Algerian Sahara.

The advent of pottery revolutionised human life. Pottery was used not only to store foodstuffs, but also to diversify diets by cooking food. The fragments that have been found, although often incomplete, provide valuable clues as to the shapes and decorations used.

The characteristics of Saharan pottery

Saharan pottery has some fascinating characteristics, as studied by Colonel Michel Lihoreau in his book ‘Poteries préhistoriques du Sahara’. This pottery falls into four main categories, depending on its shape:

  • Amphoriform: pottery with a narrow neck, medium to large in size.
  • Poculiforms: Small pottery with a vertical rim, often shallow.
  • Caliciform: Medium-sized ovoid pottery with a convex rim.
  • Vasiforms: Similar to caliciforms, but with a concave or flared rim.

The decoration on Saharan pottery is particularly rich. The motifs, obtained using tools such as denticulated flint blades, reflect the imagination and skill of the craftsmen. They include :

  • Horizontal or oblique lines,
  • Chevrons
  • Bundles of parallel lines,
  • Composite decorations combining several motifs.

This pottery, with its dome-shaped base, was often buried in the sand to ensure its stability, a detail that reflects nomadic life in tents on loose ground.

Traces of use and other finds

Archaeological excavations have revealed signs of use on the pottery, in particular scratches on the lower part due to repeated contact with the ground. These marks are evidence of daily use.

In addition to pottery, other Neolithic artefacts have been discovered in the Algerian Sahara, including tools (axes, blades, arrowheads) and hardstone millstones. Fragments of ostrich eggs, used as containers or decorative objects, are also evidence of the fauna present at the time.

Neolithic pottery from the Algerian Sahara is a precious testimony to human ingenuity at a time when sedentary populations were beginning to dominate the Saharan landscape.
The remains found, from the Hoggar massifs to the Tassili n’Ajjer, allow us to explore the daily life and traditions of ancient populations, particularly those associated
with the Tuareg and other Saharan peoples.

Neolithic pottery in the Algerian Sahara
Neolithic pottery in the Algerian Sahara
Neolithic pottery in the Algerian Sahara

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