The Rock Gallery

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Since 2017, archeologists have been studying the Cerro Azul hill, a free-standing tabletop hill in Colombia’s part of the Amazon rainforest that includes extensive rock paintings depicting animals, humans – and hybrids of them both.

Although the exact date of the work isn’t known yet, evidence around the area suggests the area served as a gallery as far back as 10,500 BCE.

Now, in a new paper, an international research team has cataloged more than 3,200 images created using red ochre pigments to portray a wide variety of creatures, including deer, birds, lizards and tapir.

The diversity of the depicted animals shows that the ancient people had a wide knowledge of the various habitats in the region, as well as possessed the skills to hunt animals and harvest plants.

Meanwhile, his relationship was extended beyond sustenance, explained co-author Mark Robinson.

Some images depict transformations between human and animal forms, which provide insights into the cosmological aspects of these Amazonians’ lives. The presence of hybrids underscores the complex mythology surrounding these creatures, which were not only a source of food but also revered as supernatural entities.

This idea of transformation is still present in modern Amazonian communities and reflects the deep-rooted spiritual and mythological significance of animals in their culture, the Independent wrote.

The team also noted the absence or minor presence of some animals.

For example, depictions of fish were limited to only a few panels, although fish remains were found abundantly in the archeological digs. Meanwhile, apex predators, such as jaguars, also did not appear which suggests that the artists were selective in what they chose to depict, possibly due to spiritual or cultural taboos.

“The context demonstrates the complexity of Amazonian relationships with animals, both as a food source but also as revered beings, which had supernatural connections and demanded complex negotiations from ritual specialists,” said Robinson.

The researchers believe that further research could provide some crucial insights into how the Amazon’s inhabitants adapted to such a challenging environment.

They also hope that the discovery can raise awareness about preserving these sites for future generations.

Archeological research in the Colombian Amazon had been hindered by the country’s decades-long conflict. The 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) group opened the way for new scientific investigations.