Archaeologists have unearthed what are believed to be the first-ever cave paintings found in Ecuador, per El Mercurio.
The remarkable discovery occurred during a research project on behalf of the University of Cuencadubbed “Material Culture, Practices, Social Meanings and Narratives Around Cañari Food.” The dig, led by archaeologist Miguel Novillo, identified at least 30 separate paintings on the surface of the rocks.
The images range from depictions of anthropological and zoological motifs as well as astronomical symbols—all of which recur throughout pre-Columbian South American cultures. The team immediately began preservation procedures, with time very much of the essence due to the precarious condition of the rock shelter housing the paintings. Novillo has subsequently been in touch with the Municipality of Paute and Ecuador’s National Institute of Cultural Heritage (INPC) to fast-track emergency conservation efforts.
Miguel Novillo/University of Cuenca
Miguel Novillo/University of Cuenca
Miguel Novillo/University of Cuenca
Miguel Novillo/University of Cuenca
Discovery Recontextualizes Nation’s History
The discovery represents a remarkable step forward in understanding the extensive history of South America. Up until now, researchers had difficulty contextualizing Ecuador’s ancient artistic and cultural expression in relation to other locations such as Colombia, where there have been many similar finds. The next step will be a two-year project, undertaken by the university, to analyze the cave paintings and determine their deeper significance.
Researchers are hopeful that further analysis of the artwork will illuminate the migration patterns of indigenous Andean cultures. They’re also investigating a potential link between pre-Inca and Amazonian cultures, as the area in which the discovery was made, the Azuay Province, sits almost directly between the two ecosystems. Numerous archaeological artifacts have already been recovered in the region, with this latest reiterating the region’s significance as a place where various idigenous communities traded and interacted.
