Aquatic fauna from the Takarkori rock shelter reveals the Holocene central Saharan climate and palaeohydrography

Aquatic fauna from the Takarkori rock shelter in Libya's Tadrart Acacus region provides a window into the Central Sahara's Holocene climate, revealing marked shifts from humid to arid conditions between 10,200 and 4,650 years ago. The study highlights a decline in fish remains relative to mammals, alongside changes in species composition and size, reflecting increasing aridity. By analyzing these patterns, researchers hypothesize the location of pre-Holocene relic populations and reconstruct the region's ancient hydrological network, offering insights into the Sahara's palaeohydrography.

Van Neer, W., Alhaique, F., Wouters, W., Dierickx, K., Gala, M., Goffette, Q., Mariani, G. S., Zerboni, A., & di Lernia, S. (2020). Aquatic fauna from the Takarkori rock shelter reveals the Holocene central Saharan climate and palaeohydrography. Plos One, 15(2), e0228588. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0228588