In a stunning archaeological discovery, researchers have uncovered an extensive eight-mile-long canvas of prehistoric rock art in the Colombian Amazon. The paintings, found in 2020, feature intricate depictions of Ice Age creatures, including giant sloths and mastodons, offering a rare glimpse into the ancient world of western Amazonia.
Dubbed the “Sistine Chapel of the Ancients,” this remarkable find spans approximately 13 kilometers of rock face in the Serranía La Lindosa region. The artwork, created using red ochre pigment, is estimated to be between 11,800 and 12,600 years old, placing it at the end of the last Ice Age.
The canvas showcases thousands of individual paintings, depicting a diverse array of subjects. Alongside the imposing figures of extinct megafauna, the artists portrayed smaller animals such as deer, tapirs, alligators, and monkeys. Human figures also feature prominently, often shown in hunting scenes or interacting with the surrounding flora and fauna.
This discovery was made possible following the 2016 peace agreement between the Colombian government and FARC rebels, which allowed researchers to safely access previously unexplored areas of the Amazon. The excavation and research were conducted as part of the LastJourney project, aimed at understanding the early human settlement of the Amazon and its impact on biodiversity.
The significance of this find extends beyond its scale. These paintings provide valuable insights into the lives of the earliest human inhabitants of the region and their coexistence with now-extinct species. The detailed depictions of animals offer new information about their appearance and behavior, while the human figures shed light on the cultural practices and daily lives of early Amazonian societies.
The discovery contributes to our understanding of human presence in the Amazon during a period of significant climate change and ecological transformation. It challenges previous assumptions about the habitability of the rainforest in prehistoric times and the sophistication of its early inhabitants.
The research team, led by archaeologists from the University of Exeter, published their findings in the journal Quaternary International in April 2020. Since then, the discovery has garnered international attention, featuring in a Channel 4 documentary titled “Jungle Mystery: Lost Kingdoms of the Amazon.”
