An archeological team in Venezuela recently made a fascinating discovery in Canaima National Park, uncovering 20 rock art sites that date back thousands of years. Led by archaeologist José Miguel Pérez-Gómez from Simón Bolívar University in Caracas, the team found unique rock art that represents a previously unknown culture. The art includes pictograms in red depicting geometric motifs like dots, X’s, star-shaped patterns, and stick figure drawings of people. These images, along with petroglyphs incised into the rock, suggest a ritual significance to the art, possibly related to birth, diseases, nature renewal, or hunting.
While the exact age of the rock art is still uncertain, similar art in Brazil has been dated to around 4,000 years ago. Pérez-Gómez believes that the examples in Venezuela may be even older. Canaima National Park, known for its vast forests and Angel Falls, could have been the birthplace of this mysterious culture before spreading to other regions like the Amazon river, the Guianas, and southern Colombia.
In addition to the rock art, the team found remnants of ceramics and stone tools at the sites, hinting at the tools used by the ancient people who created the art. As research continues, more rock art sites are expected to be discovered in the park. This groundbreaking research was presented at a prehistoric archaeological congress in Italy and published in the journal Rock Art Research in November 2023.
This discovery sheds new light on the ancient cultures that once thrived in Venezuela and raises intriguing questions about their beliefs and practices. The intricate designs and symbols found in the rock art offer a glimpse into a world long past, inviting us to explore the mysteries of a civilization that has remained hidden for millennia. As researchers continue to unravel the secrets of these ancient artifacts, we may gain a deeper understanding of the rich history and cultural heritage of Venezuela and its people.
