CNN —Ancient rock engravings in what’s now South America — believed to be among the largest in the world — were meant to mark the boundaries of the territories inhabited by their makers, according to a new study. The rock art at Cerro Pintado, about 42 meters long, includes a giant snake, a human figure, a mask motif and a multilegged creature. Philip Riris et al. Monumental rock art of a snake tail in Colombia dwarfs the humans in this image. A close-up shows a detail of rock art on Picure Island, Venezuela.

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Persons: South America —, Philip Riris et, ”, Philip Riris, —, Riris, they’re, ” Riris, weren’t, don’t, constricting, José Oliver, Natalia Lozada Mendieta —, Oliver, Lozada Mendieta, George Lau, Dr, Alexander Geurds, Geurds, doesn’t, ” Geurds, “ Organizations: CNN, Venezuela —, Cerro Pintado, Bournemouth University, University College London, Universidad de Los, Colombian, Venezuelan, University of East, University of Oxford Locations: what’s, South America, Venezuela, Colombia, Pintado, Cerro, Cerro Pintado, United Kingdom, Universidad de Los Andes, Americas, University of East Anglia, American