Chiribiquete's rock shelters, Archaeological site in Sierra de Chiribiquete, Colombia.
The rock shelters in the Sierra de Chiribiquete contain over 75,000 prehistoric paintings spread across limestone formations. The artwork includes depictions of animals, human figures, and geometric patterns found throughout the shelter walls.
Archaeological excavations revealed evidence of human presence dating back around 19,500 years through ancient hearths and stone tools. These findings represent some of the earliest known artistic activity in South America.
The rock art features many jaguars, which held spiritual meaning for indigenous peoples across the Amazon region. These images reveal how early inhabitants saw their connection to the animals around them.
The site remains closed to the general public and requires special permits from Colombian authorities. Those interested in research or documentation should contact official agencies or scientific institutions about potential access opportunities.
Scientists have documented over 250,000 individual drawings across 36 rock shelters, making it the largest concentration of rock art in the Amazon. This abundance of material from so many different locations offers a rare window into millennia of artistic traditions.
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