Because of thousands of prehistoric rock art sites, it is considered an important witness to the development of early pastoralism in the Sahara.

[2] The area is notable for its prehistoric rock carvings, first reported by the Egyptian explorer Ahmed Pasha Hassanein—the discoverer of Uweinat, who in 1923 traversed the first 40 km of the mountain towards east, without reaching the end.

[3] Engraved in sandstone, thousands of petroglyphs are visible, representing lions, giraffes, ostriches, gazelles, cows and small human figures.

According to a technical report of UNESCO, "Thousands of rock art sites of different styles and themes are distributed all over the area, [attesting] to the development of early pastoralism in Africa and exchanges among different ethnic groups across the Sahara.

The western foot (located at 21°52′29″N 24°54′16″E / 21.87472°N 24.90444°E / 21.87472; 24.90444 according to Hassanein) is 618 m high, and overcast with giant boulders fallen because of erosion.