Strange 9,000-year-old rock art of swimmers in what is now the Sahara desert

Thousands of years ago, the Sahara Desert was not a dry, sandy land but a lush green oasis.

Depicting two people swimming or rowing on a cliff. (Photo: John Zada).

In 1926, this remote area was mapped by European cartographer László Almásy, who stumbled upon two 'shallow caves lying side by side' decorated with hundreds of rock paintings of animals and humans , including handprints made by someone, according to the British Museum.

However, one set of paintings stood out to researchers. It was a wall depicting two people with their arms and legs spread out as if they were swimming.

Many researchers believe that the paintings provide a glimpse into daily life here before the area became a desert. However, some believe that the images are more metaphorical.

According to the Bradshaw Foundation, the artwork reached popular culture status when it appeared in the book "The English Patient" by Michael Ondaatje (McClelland & Stewart Inc 1992) and later in the 1996 film of the same name.