Discoveries in South America suggest that cave paintings may have originated nearly 8,200 years ago, much earlier than previously believed. The dry conditions in the region may have led to sparsely populated areas, prompting small groups to create a central location to preserve their knowledge through art. The pigments used in the Argentinian cave paintings provide the oldest direct dates for rock art in the Americas. The cave, known as Cueva Huenul 1, is located in a desert region of northwestern Patagonia and features 895 painted designs, including geometric shapes, cross-shaped lines, and figures of humans and guanacos, a type of llama relative.
2024-02-14 14:00:00
Read more on www.sciencenews.org