Prehistoric Rock Art in Colombia: The Sistine Chapel of the Ancients
Prehistoric rock art discovered in Colombia is being hailed as the “Sistine Chapel of the ancients”. This extensive eight-mile wall of art was created by the first humans of the Amazon approximately 12,500 years ago. A wildlife filmmaker is now sharing images and videos of this monumental artwork in a new documentary.
The Discovery of Ancient Art
The ancient art serves as a vital record of a long-lost South American civilization. This artwork was created by some of the earliest humans to reach the Amazon. Archaeologists uncovered the expansive wall of rock art in a remote section of the Northwestern Colombian Amazonian basin, specifically in the Serranía de la Lindosa mountain range. The intricate paintings remarkably depict life in this area when the rainforest was still a savannah around 12,000 years ago, showcasing extinct Ice Age animals like the mastodon, giant sloths, and ice age horses.
Scientific Significance
According to the Observer, although the discovery was made last year, the findings were kept under wraps until now, as they were featured in the upcoming Channel 4 series, Jungle Mystery: Lost Kingdoms of the Amazon. Presenter Ella Al-Shamahi stated that these paintings will require generations of study, noting that “the site is so new they haven’t even given it a name yet.”
Researchers are celebrating this find as the “Sistine Chapel of the ancients” due to the intricate details and the size of the frescoes. A team of British-Colombian researchers traversed for two hours by vehicle to reach the eight-mile wall, then hiked on foot for another four hours, navigating through challenging territories. “This discovery is not a drill – it is significant news and will take many decades to unpack,” Al-Shamahi remarked on Twitter, highlighting the political and environmental challenges of reaching the site.
Conclusion
The unnamed site at Serranía de la Lindosa is not an isolated discovery. In fact, around 75,000 rock art paintings have been documented in Chiribiquete National Park, illustrating the region’s rich history. The Serranias of Chiribiquete and La Lindosa are gaining attention as areas that were previously closed during armed conflicts, now opening opportunities for scientific investigation. Remarkably, the region remains expansive and remote, with some indigenous tribes yet to be contacted.
Jungle Mystery: Lost Kingdoms of the Amazon airs on Channel 4 on December 5 at 6.30pm GMT.
