Uan Muhuggiag Mummy Shelter — Acacus Dune Cave
Pastoral with Uan Muhuggiag mummy (5600 BCE oldest Africa embalmed) — shelter Late Acacus·Acacus Late Acacus hunter-pastoral·🇱🇾 Fezzan, Tadrat Acacus, Uan Muhuggiag, Wadi Teshuinat, Libya
About
About Uan Muhuggiag Mummy Shelter — Acacus Dune Cave
Muhuggiag excavated by Mori 1958, 7500 BCE hunter layers and 5600 BCE embalmed infant. Recorded context — Period: Pastoral with Uan Muhuggiag mummy (5600 BCE oldest Africa embalmed) — shelter Late Acacus; Culture: Acacus Late Acacus hunter-pastoral; Field status: excavated; Materials: sandstone, jackal skin, leaves; Condition: museum — mummy to Assaraya Benghazi.
Why it mattersKey Acacus Late Acacus hunter-pastoral rock-shelter with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function of enclosure
- 02Collapse cause
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre
- 02Defensive stronghold
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 7500 BCE occupation; mummy 5600 BCE
- Period
- Pastoral with Uan Muhuggiag mummy (5600 BCE oldest Africa embalmed) — shelter Late Acacus
- Culture
- Acacus Late Acacus hunter-pastoral
- Purpose
- 5600 BCE black mummy of child (oldest artificially mummified in Africa) in Acacus sandstone shelter with pastoral paintings
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1988
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 7500 BCE occupation; mummy 5600 BCE
Initial construction / first occupation at Uan Muhuggiag Mummy Shelter — Acacus Dune Cave
c. 1200 CE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Uan Muhuggiag Mummy Shelter — Acacus Dune Cave
On the ground
Structures & features
24.8720° N · 10.3790° E · 900 m · 3 mapped features
- Uan Muhuggiag Mummy Shelter — Acacus Dune Cave — Principal Structurestructurestructure at Uan Muhuggiag Mummy Shelter — Acacus Dune Cave — primary structure24.8735° N · 10.3787° E
- Uan Muhuggiag Mummy Shelter — Acacus Dune Cave — Complex Annex 2complexcomplex at Uan Muhuggiag Mummy Shelter — Acacus Dune Cave — primary structure24.8721° N · 10.3771° E
- Uan Muhuggiag Mummy Shelter — Acacus Dune Cave — Rock_Art Annex 3rock artrock art at Uan Muhuggiag Mummy Shelter — Acacus Dune Cave — outlier feature24.8708° N · 10.3800° E