12,500 Years Old: Ancient Amazonian Art Unlocks Secrets of Prehistoric Ecology

Rock art in the Colombian Amazon offers a window into ancient life, showing a blend of diet, mythology, and environmental interaction from over 12,500 years ago.

Archaeologists studying rock art in the Colombian Amazon have discovered extensive ochre paintings depicting a variety of animals and mythological transformations at Cerro Azul, with some sites dating back to 12,500 years ago. The artwork offers insights into the ancient Amazonians’ diets, mythologies, and ecological knowledge, underscoring a complex relationship between humans and their environment.

A new study published in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology has explored the rock art in the Colombian Amazon, shedding light on the complex relationship between the earliest settlers on the continent and the animals they encountered.