Rock Art Discovery in southern Peru: well preserved pre-Columbian cave paintings in need of documentation and future protection.

Photo: El Comercio/Dante Piaggio

An online article by Hillary Ojeda - Beautiful and ancient Vilavilani cave paintings left unprotected - on www.peruthisweek.com reports on the recently discovered rock art in southern Peru.

The Vilavilani cave, an archaeological site located in the Palca District of the region of Tacna, has cave paintings which archaeologists believe date back to roughly 7,000 B.C. The rock art depicts camelids, such as guanacos, as well as serpentine and zig-zag motifs.

Archaeologist Jesus Gordillo, working at the site, is basing the rock art date on the close similarities in style, subject and pigment to those of the better known paintings of the caves of Toquepala nearby.

This new discovery adds to the portfolio of pre-Columbian rock art in Peru, although researchers are keen to stress the importance and need for full scientific documentation and preservation of this unprotected archaeological site.

Read more about the rock art of Peru:

http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/peru/index.php