Largest known prehistoric rock engravings discovered in South America

The team co-led by researchers at Bournemouth University and Universidad de los Andes in Colombia published their results in the journal Antiquity.

The engravings, found carved into rock faces along the Upper and Middle Orinoco River in Venezuela and Colombia, feature a range of imagery including depictions of giant snakes, human figures, and giant Amazonian centipedes.

Some of the engravings are tens of metres long, with the largest measuring more than 40 metres in length, and are thought to have been used to mark the locations of prehistoric indigenous tribes. The team believe this is the largest single rock engraving recorded anywhere in the world.

While some of the sites were already known, the team discovered several more and mapped 14 sites of monumental rock engravings, including ones which are more than four metres wide or high. The team worked with local guides and used drone photography to record the sites.

While it is difficult to date rock engravings, similar motifs used on pottery found in the area indicate that they were created up to about 2,000 years ago, possibly much earlier.

Many of the largest engravings are of snakes, believed to be boa constrictors or anacondas, which played an important role in the myths and beliefs of the local Indigenous population.

Lead author, Dr Phil Riris of Bournemouth University, said: “These monumental sites are truly big, impressive sites, which we believe were meant to be seen from some distance away. We know that anacondas and boas are associated with not just the creator deity of some Indigenous groups in the region, but that they are also seen as lethal beings that can kill people and large animals.

“We believe the engravings could have been used by prehistoric groups as a way to mark territory, letting people know that this is where they live and that appropriate behaviour is expected. Snakes are generally interpreted as quite threatening, so where the rock art is located could be a signal that these are places where you need to mind your manners.”

Co-author Dr José Oliver (UCL Institute of Archaeology) said: “The engravings are mainly concentrated along a stretch of the Orinoco River called the Atures Rapids, which would have been an important prehistoric trade and travel route. We think that the engravings are meant to be seen specifically from the Orinoco because most travel at the time would have been on the river.

“The Orinoco is generally quite navigable up to this point and so it would have been a natural stopping point. The archaeology tells us that it was it was a diverse environment and there was a lot of trade and interaction. This means it would have been a key point of contact, and so making your mark could have been all the more important because of that – marking out your local identity and letting visitors know that you are here.”

The research team conclude that it is vital that these monumental rock art sites are protected to ensure their preservation and continued study, with the Indigenous peoples of the Orinoco region central to this process.

Co-author Dr Natalia Lozada Mendieta of the Universidad de los Andes said: “We've registered these sites with the Colombian and Venezuelan national heritage bodies as a matter of course, but some of the communities around it feel a very strong connection to the rock art. Moving forward, we believe they are likely to be the best custodians.”

The research was funded by the Leverhulme Trust, The Society of Antiquaries of London, Universidad de los Andes, the Fundación de Investigaciones Arqueológicas Nacionales (Colombia), and the British Academy

Links

• Research paper in Antiquity
• Dr José Oliver's academic profile
• Dr Phil Riris's academic profile
• UCL Institute of Archaeology
• UCL Faculty of Social & Historical Sciences
• Bournemouth University
• Universidad de los Andes 

Image

• Two researchers inspect the large etchings on the side of a rocky cliff.
• Credit: Dr Phil Riris

Media Contact

Mike Lucibella

• E: m.lucibella [at] ucl.ac.uk