Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Archaeologists have unearthed the earliest dated cave paintings in South America, found in Argentine Patagonia, dating back 8,200 years.
A joint effort by Argentine and Chilean archaeologists uncovered 895 cave paintings in the Huenul 1 cave, located in Neuquen province, approximately 1,100 kilometres southwest of Buenos Aires, said a report by Reuters.
Dr. Guadalupe Romero Villanueva announced the groundbreaking discovery, citing four black peniform patterns dated using charcoal as the earliest direct dating of cave paintings in South America, according to the study published in the Science Advances journal.
Villanueva has suggested that the paintings signify the commencement of cave art production roughly 8,000 years ago, with the particular pattern enduring for at least 3,000 years.
The find has shed light on the artistic prowess and cultural exchange of hunter-gatherer communities during the middle Holocene period, spanning approximately 7,000 to 5,000 years ago.
Villanueva has theorized that the cave paintings represent a resilient response to extreme dryness experienced during the middle Holocene, providing a glimpse into the adaptive strategies of mobile hunter-gatherer groups inhabiting the region.
The cave paintings have served as a form of communication among scattered populations, illustrating the interconnectedness and cultural significance of artistic expression in ancient societies.
While the Huenul 1 cave paintings are the earliest dated in South America, Villanueva has acknowledged the presence of potentially older cave paintings, such as those in Argentina's Cueva de las Manos, dating back 9,500 years, albeit with relative dating methods.
The discovery has prompted further exploration and research into the rich cultural heritage of South America, offering insights into early human civilizations and their artistic legacies.