Patagonian Cave Paintings Discovered to be Oldest Rock Art in South America
By Esme Franks
Example of a rock art panel at the site Cueva Huenul 1 (northwestern Patagonia, Argentina) Credit: Guadalupe Romero VillanuevaImage: https://phys.org/news/2024-02-cave-art-patagonia-oldest-pigment.html
This week it was announced that, thanks to Radiocarbon dating by archaeologists, wall motifs found in a cave in Southern Argentina are in fact over 8000 years old. The findings were published in Science Advances on 14th February 2024.
Situated at the southern tip of South America, Patagonia encompasses predominantly desert, tableland, or savannahs, with the inclusion of the southern Andes. Previous studies indicate that human habitation in this region dates back approximately 12,000 years, marking it as one of the final destinations on Earth settled by humans. Although our knowledge is limited, the cave drawings suggest that humans endured the challenging conditions of Patagonia, facing issues such as scarce food resources and an extended period of hot and dry weather lasting several thousands of years. This meant that around 10,000 years ago the sight was abandoned, possibly due to environmental factors.
The discovery exemplifies a remarkable collaboration between art and science, showcasing how this amalgamation has provided fresh insights into art history and the human impulse to create. The walls of the stark inland desert caves are decorated by 900 paintings of human figures, animals and geometric abstract designs. The black paint used is thought to be made out of charred wood. The art itself is known as Cueva Huenul 1, believed to be created only a couple of thousand years ago. In particular, it was a depiction of a mysterious wobbly comb-like motif which has now been discovered to be 8,200 years old. It stands as the earliest documented instance of rock art in one of the final regions on Earth inhabited by our species.
Guadalupe Romero Villavueva, an archaeologist at the Argentine government agency CONICET, stated that he was very surprised by the results, which made “rethink some things.” While the meaning of the comb-motif has been lost across the centuries, it is believed that it symbolises the collective memories and traditions of those who endured the hot and dry period, serving as a “contribution to the discussion about how humans have dealt with climatic change in the past,” says Andrés Tronosco, an archaeologist at the University of Chile.
While the data offers a factual insight into our understanding of our ancestors, it also carries an emotional resonance. It serves as evidence that the climate challenges confronting our society today have been experienced and overcome by past generations, instilling a sense of hope for our own struggles. Throughout history, the climate has consistently served as a source of inspiration for art, acting as a vehicle for the desire for change and a platform to address climactic issues. An example in the contemporary context is Olafur Eliasson, whose art involves the use of melting ice as a medium, serving as a reflection of the declining Arctic environment. The cave paintings therefore evoke a sense of arts transcendence across time; as Villavueva states: “These were at the same place, admiring the same landscape; the people living here, maybe families, were gathering here for social aspects. It’s really emotional for us.”
Bibliography
Becky Ferreira. “Mysterious Pattern in a Cave Is Oldest Rock Art Found in Patagonia.” The New York Times, 2024 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/14/science/oldest-cave-art-patagonia.html
Bob Yirka. “Cave art in Patagonia found to be oldest pigment-based cave art in South America.” Phys Org, 2024 https://phys.org/news/2024-02-cave-art-patagonia-oldest-pigment.html
Torey Akers. “Cave Paintings in Patagonia discovered to be oldest rock art in South America.” The Art Newspaper, 2024 https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2024/02/16/scientific-analysis-patagonia-cave-paintings-oldest-south-america-argentina
Will Sullivan. “This Ancient Cave Art Passed Survival Information Across 130 Human Generations in Patagonia, Study Suggests.” Smithsonian Magazine, 2024 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-ancient-cave-art-passed-survival-information-across-130-human-generations-in-patagonia-study-suggests-180983802/