515

Site
Site name
RA01/68
Toponym(s) of the site

Ti-n-Ascigh II

Description

A large cave known as Ti-n-Ascigh II located along a right branch of the Wadi Senaddar not far from Ti-n-Ascigh III (Site ID 514). The cave has a series of small recesses separated by natural sandstone columns. A sequence of panels is painted on the central and right sides of the vault. The site was discovered in the 1960s and reproduced on a large canvas in the Mori Collection as evidence of the Horse/Bitriangular style. In 2009, the paintings were severely vandalized with silver spray-paint that covered all the motifs. Some Pastoral and Camel subjects were also found nearby (Panel 2 and 7). The main scenes, possibly connected by a single narrative, represent red bitriangular humans with white details (a headdress and possibly also clothing decoration). The first scene (Panel 1) depicts a couple of seated humans conversing (probably a man and a woman). To the right, a likely convivial scene contains three humans playing string instruments and a group of four seated humans talking (Panel 3). A third scene on the right shows an isolated human with a large hand possibly playing a rattle and also feasibly participating in the convivial scene (Panel 4). A fourth scene with similar subject occurs further to the right and includes four humans sitting and conversing (Panel 6). Between Panel 4 and 6 is a group of three standing female figures with long white dresses holding long sticks. A few Pastoral pale red cattle (Panel 2) are barely visible above Panel 1. At the right end side of the cave, a large panel contains a palimpsest of paintings with overlapping pastoral scenes in the Horse/Bitriangular and Camel styles. Kettles, cupules, and grooves are scattered around the site.