The Azawagh is an ancient tributary of the Niger River close to 1600km long, which was known first as Timersoï, Azawagh then Dallol Bosso (fig.1). Drawing on the Aïr, the Hoggar and the Adrar des Ifoghas, it is an area of transition between the Sahara, the Sahel and northern Sudan. It is a favourite location for contact and trade, the archaeological value of which has long been known (Le Rumeur, 1933). Five multidisciplinary missions (1979-1990) have described 90 archaeological and geological sites there (Durand et al., 1999). Hence :
According to calculations, the presence of humans in this region dates back to 7532-6855 B.C. on a site caracterised by a large number of Ounan points, microliths and armatures (Tamaya Mellet, fig.1) ; the oldest ceramics date back to 6469-6186 B.C., using an organic temper with long fibres from absorbent plants (fig.4). The Neolithic period, in the true sense of the term, has not been demonstrated to have existed until 5000 B.C. (Maga, 1993). Particular attention has been paid to sepulchres, the evolution of which appears to have followed changes in population movements (Paris, 1996).
http://journal3.net/spip.php?article234
According to calculations, the presence of humans in this region dates back to 7532-6855 B.C. on a site caracterised by a large number of Ounan points, microliths and armatures (Tamaya Mellet, fig.1) ; the oldest ceramics date back to 6469-6186 B.C., using an organic temper with long fibres from absorbent plants (fig.4). The Neolithic period, in the true sense of the term, has not been demonstrated to have existed until 5000 B.C. (Maga, 1993). Particular attention has been paid to sepulchres, the evolution of which appears to have followed changes in population movements (Paris, 1996).
http://journal3.net/spip.php?article234