Over millennia, early humans in the southern hemisphere started to adorn cave rocks with pigments, creating geometric designs.
A recent study by a multinational team has dated these artworks in Argentina’s Huenul 1 cave to 8,200 years ago, marking them as South America’s oldest.
This discovery challenges previous records and highlights a significant leap in understanding early human creativity.
Lead author, archaeologist Guadalupe Romero Villanueva, notes this finding revolutionizes rock art dating techniques.
The team’s use of direct carbon-14 dating has pinpointed the art’s origins with unprecedented precision.
This method revealed the art spans from 7,600 to 3,000 years ago, with statistical models estimating its start at 8,200 years ago.
Romero Villanueva’s decade-long research uncovered motifs predating the cave’s supposed peak use by millennia.
Huenul 1, situated in Neuquén province, houses over 440 motifs, evidencing a site of repeated significance across generations.
This continuity suggests a rich tradition of conveying crucial ecological and social knowledge through art, facilitating resilience in arid conditions.
The study shows ancient strategies can teach us about tackling climate issues, stressing resilience and adaptability.
This old art deepens our grasp of early culture and guides us through current global problems.