ROCK ART IN THE HUMAN LANDSCAPE OF THE HEADWATERS OF QUEBRADA DE HUMAHUACA: THE CASE OF CUEVA DEL INDIO

Abstract

Rock art occupies a special place within the set of material traces produced by human activities in a particular Landscape, since it is not only a physical manifestation of said activities, but also a graphic manifestation of the cognitive systems it was part of. In this framework, the study of the rock art of Cueva del Indio archaeological site contributes to understanding the dynamics of human groups over time in the South Central Andes. This site, implanted in a special place, is an example of a cultural choice to implant visual narratives, signifying the Landscape, with a connotation that lasts through time. In this work, the complete survey of Cueva del Indio rock art and the direct radiocarbon dates obtained from two motifs are presented, allowing to evaluate the chronological rock art sequence of the area. Cueva del Indio is an exceptional site of rock art given the quantity and quality of the recorded motifs that include unique scenes, among which an "ambush at an alliance attempt” and the large number of battle scenes stand out. Likewise, the reuse, repainting and overlapping of motifs indicate the enduring relevance of Cueva del Indio as a central place within the Landscape over time.