In ten caves in Laas Geel, Somali for “camel watering hole”, outside Hargeisa, the capital of Somalia's self-declared Somaliland state, vivid depictions afford a peek at a pastoralist history dating back some 5,000 years or more. The paintings were discovered in 2002 by a French archeology team and have since been protected to stem looting after their value became apparent to locals who previously feared they were the work of evil spirits.The cave galleries provide a peek into the little known history of this part of the world, which in recent times has mostly been famous for bloody conflicts and instability. - Photos by AFP.