Military service

In 1970 a team of servicemen and scientists spent three months in the Southern Sahara examining sand dunes on the edge of the Sahel, and carrying out archaeological and geomorphological surveys of Adrar Bous, a desert mountain in Niger (Geogr.J.137,445-467) To approach the area, they crossed the Sahara to Agadez with one 3 ton truck, two dune buggies and four Land Rovers.

For an account - extract from Hall's memoir

The dune buggies were a constant source of delay, not liking the dust and sand of the trans Saharan route.
A base was established for 3 months in a house in Agadez.
A small team reached Adrar Bous by camel before the first Land Rover.

A camp established at Adrar Bous with a parachute canopy.
Mike Saunders, Deputy Leader, briefs a team.
Archaeological trench in a sand dune provided hot and hard work.

A dust storm blowing up.

Tony Pigott doing the transit survey of Adrar Bous and a dried lake bed.
Professor Martin Williams is down a hole again to examine stratification.

Dr Hugh Bevan-Jones interviews
David Hall.
Dr Peter Beighton records John Trewby's skin thickness.
Dr Peter Beighton carried out regular checks for his medical project. Here taking measurements of John Rogers.

Looking down on the Air from space. Mont Tamgak is the upper central massif. Enlarge and the fault providing the main oued through the centre of it is clear.
Adrar Siret is the mountain isolated in the sand (the Ténéré), the mountain a small party visited.

So soft was the sand on the approach that they had to leave their vehicles and walk for many miles to reach the mountain and spend a night there before returning to Adrar Bous (off the top right of image).

Water for Adrar Bous was brought from a water hole on Mont Greboun 20 miles west.

A view of the tree with Desmond Clark's blue tent and the parachute canopy beyond, the main base of Adrar Bous.
Francis Thompson and Azowi, the Expedition's guide, by the fire at night.

Professor J Desmond Clark on returning from Adrar Sirret.
Many samples of Neolithic Adzes were found
and also discs of many sizes.

Arrow heads of all shapes, colours and sizes.
Alan Pastron with his cow dated about 4,000 BP.
David Hall with a volcanic plug behind him.

Checking the Land Rover for the last overloaded journey back to Agadez.

Francis Thompson on a re-supply run - down a track constructed by the team.
Chart of Adrar Bous.

Expedition coverage