3000 years petroglyphs tour
fromBidzar is an archaeological
This site is 20 km from Guider, Cameroon, featuring petroglyphs between 3000 and 300 years old. The site, currently under threat from local cement and marble manufacturing operations, is being considered for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage list of sites with “outstanding universal value” to the world.
The Rupestral Engravings of Bidzar, on the other hand, showcases a marble field with about 130 sq km of Cipolin outcrop. This is located on the road of Maroua Garoua. The flagstone comprises marble engravings of diagrammatic representations.
The art that is depicted in this engraving is part of the tradition of Cameroon. This engraving, the geometric styles diagram, is believed to have been man-made and some are as old as 300 years.
DISCOVERY & SITUATION
The rock engravings of Bidzar were discovered by the French researcher Buisson in 1933. Other researchers were Jauze (1944), J.P. Nicholas (1951), E. Mveng (1965). In 1970 A. Marliac rediscovered the site and carried out some further studies, A. Marliac (1982). Bidzar is a small village near Guidar, situated on the Maroua-Garoua road in the north of Cameroon. The field of marble extends in the west of the road for about 2.5km long and 1km wide.
The total length of these engravings has long been considered by some researchers as natural.
THE MATERIAL
The material on which the engravings were carved is the calcareous marble (cipolin) from which the presence of schist (rock), rich in chlorites, modified its whitish color-producing hues of green, yellow, blue, or pink. This marble seems to have been chosen voluntarily because its resistance to engraving is very low, whereas the neighboring rocks such as granite are too hard and the mica-schist too soft.
The engravings could only have been done with iron tools; the first layer of the marble is easily removed giving way to the whitish and most resistant part of the rock.
TECHNIQUES OF THE ENGRAVING
The engravers knew the usable material beside the neighboring and less favorable rocks. In most of the cases, the engravers of Bidzar used a directly thrown percussion i.e. The hammering of a hammer placed on the engraved surface. The mark by staking is observable on the engravings; the engravers seem to have chosen the surfaces having no cracks or holes.
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Vacation Style Holiday TypeDiscovery, Guided Tours, History
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Activity Level Moderate
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Group Size Small Group
DEGRADATION AND DESTRUCTION OF ENGRAVINGS
Two types of degradations can lead to the wearing away of the engravings: Natural destruction caused by erosion (water flow) and the degradation of the marble (cracks) by climatic agents. Human degradation, The field of marble at Bidzar has been long visited by men and animals, which has led to an increase in the deterioration of the marble. One can also note the piling up of stones and freshly made holes during cultivation periods.
To resolve these problems an enclosure was constructed around the most important fields of marble. The policy of preservation needed to be put in place, as the paints and coatings that may have been used on the engraving were being erased over time due to climate and erosion.
DATING OF BIDZAR ROCK ENGRAVINGS
It is difficult to give an exact date to these engravings, but studies have shown that they could not go beyond the early Iron Age (2500-1500 BP).
INTERPRETATION OF THE ENGRAVINGS
The Bidzar engravings clearly have a meaning, but their interpretation is subjective.
Moreover, the local population has no concept of their meaning.
A vehicle in good condition 4×4 south and north, a driver, a guide, fuel and road tolls, full board (excluding drinks but with 1.5 liters of mineral water per person per day ), accommodation in hotels and hotels Camp, canoe, all visits mentioned in the program, the 1st class train compartment and 2 single beds or 4 beds, certificate management and hosting for obtaining visas, etc …
International air tickets, airport taxes, visa, drinks, private insurance and repatriation, personal purchases, gifts and gratuities, gifts for pictures
