Wadi Sora Cave of Swimmers
Cave of Swimmers · Wadi Sura II · Gilf Kebir Swimmers
Early to Mid Holocene (6000–3000 BCE)·Saharan pastoral Neolithic (Gilf Kebir)·🇪🇬 New Valley Governorate (Gilf Kebir), Egypt
About
About Wadi Sora Cave of Swimmers
Wadi Sora (Wadi Sura) Cave of Swimmers (Cave II) in Gilf Kebir is Saharan pastoral rock art 6000–3000 BCE, famous for 1933 Almasy discovery of 'swimming' floating figures (actually swimming in wadi floods vs shamanic?) with stencilled hands, cattle, and headless beasts. Adjacent Cave of Archers I. Part of Gilf Kebir National Park's 8000 BP green Sahara when lakes held hippopotami. Zboray 2005 survey. Book and film English Patient popularized.
Why it mattersIconic green Sahara rock art; swimming interpretation links Holocene palaeoclimate lakes.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Swimming depiction vs ritual symbol
- 02Dating 6000 vs 4000 BCE
Theories
- 01Wadi lake swimming realism (Kuper)
- 02Shamanic trance swimming (Zboray)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Natural cave shelters 6000 BCE paintings
- Period
- Early to Mid Holocene (6000–3000 BCE)
- Culture
- Saharan pastoral Neolithic (Gilf Kebir)
- Builders
- Early Holocene pastoralists
- Purpose
- Rock art shrine depicting swimming, herding and ritual
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
6000 BCE
Hand stencils painted
5000 BCE
Swimmers panel painted
3000 BCE
Aridification abandonment
1933
Almásy discovery
On the ground
Structures & features
23.5850° N · 25.2320° E · 720 m · 2 mapped features
Swimmers Panel
rock art3×2 m panel with floating figures
23.5860° N · 25.2330° EHand Stencil Wall
rock artWall with ochre hand stencils
23.5840° N · 25.2310° E
Gallery