Hargeisa

Sister cities

• Khartoum

History

Numerous cave paintings from the Neolithic period are found in the Laas Geel complex, on the outskirts of Hargeisa. During November and December 2002, an archaeological survey was carried out in the area by a French team of researchers. The expedition's objective was to search for rock shelters and caves containing stratified archaeological infills capable of documenting the period when production economy appeared in this part of Somaliland ( and 2nd millennium BCE). During the course of the survey, the French archaeological team discovered the Laas Geel rock art, encompassing an area of ten rock alcoves (caves). In an excellent state of preservation, the paintings show human figures with their hands raised and facing long-horned, humpless cattle. The rock art had been known to the area's inhabitants for centuries before the French discovery. However, the existence of the site had not been broadcast to the international community. In November 2003, a mission returned to Laas Geel and a team of experts undertook a detailed study of the paintings and their prehistoric context. Somaliland generally is home to numerous such archaeological sites, with similar rock art and/or ancient edifices such as the Dhambalin rock art. However, many of these old structures have yet to be properly explored, a process which would help shed further light on local history and facilitate their preservation for posterity. According to traditional poetic (gabay) oral accounts, Hargeisa was founded by the Arap as a watering and trading stop for passing nomads and caravans. It is believed that and the Habar Yoonis and the Eidagale subtribes were amongst the early settlers of Hargeisa. Hargeisa continued to grow with the arrival of Sheikh Madar Shirwa, widely considered to be the founder of…

Most-observed species

• Speckled Pigeon

  Columba guinea Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  196
• Common Bulbul

  Pycnonotus barbatus (Desfontaines, 1789) · Aves
  187
• Chestnut Weaver

  Ploceus rubiginosus Rüppell, 1840 · Aves
  174
• Swainson's Sparrow

  Passer swainsonii (Rüppell, 1840) · Aves
  168
• Laughing Dove

  Spilopelia senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  161
• Rüppell's Weaver

  Ploceus galbula Rüppell, 1840 · Aves
  155
• Little Swift

  Apus affinis (J.E.Gray, 1830) · Aves
  152
• Ethiopian Swallow

  Hirundo aethiopica Blanford, 1869 · Aves
  147