The rich diversity of early prehistoric rock art in Bolivia is concentrated mainly in the Andean region and the eastern and northern lowlands near rivers, though it also extends into neighboring regions such as Peru, Chile, and Patagonia.
Research into these discoveries is still relatively new. Since 1987, Bolivia’s Rock Art Research Society (SIARB – Sociedad de Investigación del Arte Rupestre de Bolivia) has made significant progress, documenting over a thousand art sites. Bolivia’s oldest rock art dates to the Paleo-Indian period, with other examples from the Pre-Inca and Colonial periods. Initially, SIARB focused primarily on the Colonial art, but in recent years, some progress has been made in establishing preliminary sequences of Pre-Hispanic rock art traditions.
As many experts confirm, we are still far from fully understanding early rock art traditions, which date back to the Archaic period. It is also believed that humans inhabited the Bolivian highlands as early as 11,000 BC, although most available data points to later sites, dating back to at least 6,000 BC.
As many experts confirm, we are still far from fully understanding early rock art traditions, which date back to the Archaic period. It is also believed that humans inhabited the Bolivian highlands as early as 11,000 BC, although most available data points to later sites, dating back to at least 6,000 BC.
Perhaps the most well-known and remarkable of all the art discoveries are two magnificent mask-like designs. This clear and detailed artwork is located in the small cave of Vallegrande, west of Santa Cruz, in the Andean highlands.
Photo: neandARThal Hand Painted Skirt Design
Although there has been limited archaeological research and a lack of excavations, major projects in five regions have uncovered early rock art traditions, revealing a wealth of petroglyphs and rock paintings in small caves, rock shelters, on vertical cliffs, and on large boulders. These discoveries offer us a glimpse into the fascinating stories of ancient times:
- Ancient cupules or cup marks found in Mizque, along with a feline head carved in low relief.
- Abstract incisions near Lake Titicaca, some forming sun-like and star shapes.
- The oldest known representation of negative handprints or stencils, as well as a cross-like white design in the caves of Mojocoya.
- The small cave of Paja Colorada in Vallegrande, one of the most significant rock art sites in Bolivia, with a sequence of traditions that span millennia.
- Depictions of groups of wild camelids (guanacos) in lively movement and human figures of hunters in Betanzos.
These ancient traditions include a large stylized serpent found at El Buey and beautiful paintings of ceramics and textiles from the Pre-Hispanic period, created in dark red, various shades of red, pink, white, and black.
To this day, one of the most important allies among the people of South America remains the llama. The impressive rock art shelter of Pultuma features a long row of llama figures, mostly painted in white. The tradition of llameros, who transport goods between the highlands and the lower tropical regions, is still preserved to this day.
Video Introduction – Rock Art at Robore
In a detailed presentation, Matthias Strecker, an educator and rock art expert, summarizes the research conducted so far and emphasizes the ongoing educational campaign to raise awareness of the importance of rock art in Bolivia’s cultural heritage. The project aims to catalog rock art sites, document rock paintings and engravings, conduct preliminary archaeological surveys, develop a management plan and initial conservation measures, and share the findings with the public through publications and other means. More than 80 sites have been registered.
