Neuquen, Argentina Reuters —Archaeologists have discovered the earliest dated cave paintings in South America in Argentine Patagonia, dating back 8,200 years.
These proved to be the earliest direct dating of cave paintings in South America,” said Dr. Guadalupe Romero Villanueva, author of the research published in the Science Advances journal.
The Argentinean archaeologist said the discovery indicates that the production of cave art began in the Huenul cave about 8,000 years ago and that the practice of painting the particular pattern seen in the cave was sustained for a period of at least 3,000 years.
A general view of the Huenul 1 cave where scientists discovered the oldest dated cave art in South America, with nearly 8,200 years old, in Neuquen, Argentina March 3, 2024.
Villanueva said there are other places in South America that could have older cave paintings, but which only have relative dating, like Argentina’s Cueva de las Manos, with cave paintings dating back 9,500 years.
Persons:
“, ”, Guadalupe Romero Villanueva, Miguel Lo Bianco Miguel Lo Bianco, Romero Villanueva, Villanueva, Cueva, las
Organizations:
Argentina Reuters —, Argentine, REUTERS, National Council for Scientific, Research, las Manos
Locations:
Neuquen, Argentina, South America, Argentine Patagonia, Chilean, Buenos Aires, Patagonia