Rock Paintings of Sierra de San Francisco, Ancient petroglyphic site in Sierra de San Francisco, Mexico
The rock paintings of Sierra de San Francisco are spread across about 250 sites throughout the mountain range, showing figures of humans, animals, and geometric patterns in red, black, and white. The artworks are located in natural caves and beneath rock shelters distributed across the rugged terrain.
The paintings date back to around 5500 BCE and were created by the Cochimi people, whose culture developed over thousands of years in this mountain region. European missionaries, particularly the Jesuit José Mariano Rotea, first documented these artworks in the 18th century and introduced them to the wider world.
The painted caves feature life-sized images of deer, wild sheep, rabbits, pumas, whales, turtles, and fish that show what animals mattered to the people living here. These pictures reveal how hunting and the natural world shaped their way of life and artistic choices.
Local guides lead expeditions through the mountain wilderness to reach the painted caves and advance arrangements are necessary since the locations are remote. The visit requires physical fitness and sure-footedness for the uneven paths and high elevations of the mountain range.
Cueva de la Serpiente contains a panel longer than 7 meters with deer-headed serpents and clustered figure groups, showing the artistic skill of ancient inhabitants. This artwork stands out for its scale and interlocking motifs that differ from simpler depictions found at other sites.
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