An archaeological team led by José Miguel Pérez-Gómez from Simon Bolívar University discovered around 20 rock art sites in Canaima National Park, Venezuela.
The sites feature pictograms and petroglyphs depicting geometric motifs, stick figure drawings, and representations of nature, potentially dating back 4,000 years or older.
Pérez-Gómez presented the findings at a UNESCO-backed conference in Italy in late June.
The rock art may belong to a previously unknown culture, according to Pérez-Gómez. The designs found are different from others found in other parts of South America. They feature red "pictograms" with geometric patterns like dotted lines, rows of X, star-shaped patterns, and simple representations of leaves and people, as well as petroglyphs carved into rocks.
While the exact age of the rock art is unknown, similar art in Brazil dates back around 4,000 years, and Venezuela's examples may be even older, possibly originating in Canaima National Park before dispersing to other regions.
Ceramic vessels and stone tools were also found at the excavation sites, which may have been used by the same culture.
Pérez-Gómez is seeking grants and resources for further studies.
Sources: Livescience, Axios, Newscientist, Terra, Elconfidencial, Refresher, Elvocero, 24, Mdzol, Lanotadeldia, Notimerica, Eltubazodigital, Telemundo
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq.
