A recent discovery in Patagonia has pushed back the timeline of ancient rock art in South America. Previously estimated to be only a few thousand years old, the rock art found in a cave in Argentina’s Patagonia region has been revealed to be much older, with some drawings dating back as far as 8,200 years, according to a study published in the journal Science Advances.

Examples of the rock art found inside a cave in Patagonia. Credit: Guadalupe Romero Villanueva

Led by archaeologist Guadalupe Romero Villanueva from the Argentine National Research Council (CONICET) and the National Insтιтute of Anthropology and Latin American Thought (INAPL), an international team of researchers conducted a meticulous analysis of the cave art.

The cave, known as Cueva Huenul 1, boasts an extensive collection of rock art, including depictions of humans, animals, and abstract designs. Through radiocarbon dating of pigment samples taken from the drawings, researchers were able to establish the age of the artwork, which spans over 100 generations, indicating a rich cultural tradition that endured for millennia.

“[The cave] is not the oldest occupation in South America, but it is the oldest directly radiocarbon-dated pigment-based rock art in South America,” Ramiro Barberena, an archaeologist at Temuco Catholic University in Chile and CONICET, told Live Science. This revelation challenges previous notions about the timeline of artistic expression in the region.

Dated rock art motif UT5-S2-M19 from CH1. Credit: Guadalupe Romero Villa/ Science Advances (2024)

The artwork found in Cueva Huenul 1 offers clues about the social dynamics and cultural practices of the ancient inhabitants of Patagonia. While the specific cultural affiliations of the artists remain uncertain, researchers speculate that the art may have served as a means of communication between different communities, as well as a repository of cultural knowledge pᴀssed down through generations.

One particularly intriguing motif found in the cave is a comb-like pattern, which researchers believe may have played a role in preserving collective memories and oral traditions during a period of extreme environmental stress. The discovery of this motif, along with the diverse array of images found in the cave, suggests that Cueva Huenul 1 was a hub of cultural activity and communication in ancient Patagonia.

CH1 environment and landscape. (A) Emplacement of CH1 (yellow arrow) in a volcanic landscape within the Monte Desert. (B to D) Views of the cave’s geology and topography. (E) View from CH1 of the volcanic landscape of northwestern Patagonia. Credit: Guadalupe Romero Villa/ Science Advances (2024)

By dating the rock art to a period of extreme aridity and demographic stasis, the study highlights the adaptive strategies employed by ancient populations in response to environmental challenges.

More information: Romero Villanueva, G., Sepúlveda, M., Cárcamo-Vega, J., Cherkinsky, A., de Porras, M. E., & Barberena, R. (2024). Earliest directly dated rock art from Patagonia reveals socioecological resilience to mid-Holocene climate. Science Advances, 10(7). doi:10.1126/sciadv.adk4415