Archaeologists are using cameras and drones to map 14 sites featuring enormous rock art engravings scattered throughout Venezuela and Colombia.
According to a new study published on Tuesday (June 4) in the journal Antiquity, these rock sculptures include depictions of humans and animals, prominently located along the Orinoco River, which flows through South America.
The researchers believe the ancient people intentionally chose these locations for rock engraving, as they could be seen from afar, given their placement along the important trade and travel route known as Atures Rapids.
2,000-year-old giant artworks engraved on rock faces. (Source: Live Science).
The study’s lead author, Philip Riris, a senior lecturer in archaeology and environmental archaeology at Bournemouth University (UK), told Live Science, “There are several expressions of territoriality visible in these works. It is a marking by ancient peoples.”
The researchers have not yet concluded who created these massive carvings, which include an engraving of a large snake measuring up to 42 meters. However, they noted that several themes, including depictions of reptiles such as Boa constrictors and Anacondas, play a significant role in the mythology and beliefs of indigenous people.
“Anacondas and Boa constrictors are associated with the creator deity of some indigenous groups living in the area. These renowned snake species are known to be deadly, so these rock engravings serve as a warning to outsiders that they are intruding into their territory,” Riris analyzed.
In particular, a large snake motif carved into the rock has caught the attention of researchers because it resembles a similar drawing that was hastily sketched on a ceramic vessel excavated in the area during a previous dig.
“The small ceramic vessel found in a cave was decorated with a snake design similar to the one on one of the rocks. I believe the creator of the vessel was contemporary with the creators of the rock artworks,” he speculated.
The study indicates that these rock artworks date back approximately 2,000 years.
Riris stated, “Nowhere else in the world are there so many large rock artworks like this. In other places, you might see rock art, but here we have found a very large number of such works concentrated in one area.”
The research team has registered these sites with the national heritage conservation authorities of Colombia and Venezuela and plans to collaborate with indigenous groups to ensure that the rock art is protected, especially as the area is set to open to tourists.
“The rock engravings need to be protected. We will work with local communities to safeguard these monuments. We believe that the indigenous people will be the best guardians of these sites,” the study’s author stated.
