A 23 meter snake does not exist, it does not exist, the poet would say… This fabulous reptile nevertheless zigzags on the hills of Cerro Palomazón, in eastern Colombia, near the banks of the Orinoco River and the border with Venezuela. A still mysterious civilization carved this giant into the granite around 9,200 years ago.
Vultures, crocodiles, centipedes, monkeys, jaguars…
The archaeologists, who published the results of their research this year in the journal Antiquity, noted on the site some 1,000 petroglyphs representing vultures, crocodiles, centipedes, monkeys, jaguars… Along with human figures. This is the first time that such a concentration of rock art has been brought to light over such an area.
The discovery revives scientists' interest in pre-Hispanic civilizations (which preceded the arrival of Christopher Columbus in America in 1492) whose remains abound in Colombia, from the intriguing Ciudad Perdida, near the Caribbean coast, to underground tombs from Tierradentro, in Cauca. Researchers have recently rediscovered some of these sites, made inaccessible by decades of armed conflict.
The most beautiful photos of Colombia by the GEO Community
The “Sistine of the Amazon”
As in Cerro Azul, in the Guaviare jungle, an archaeological zone protected since 2018. Some 12,500 years old, this treasure has earned the nickname of the Sistine Chapel of the Amazon. There, you have to escape from a labyrinth of lianas and palm trees to emerge on immense cliffs decorated with patterns, painted with a mineral mixture based on manganese which has contributed to their excellent conservation. A wonder.
➤ Article published in the magazine GEO n°549, “Colombia, a colorful journey”, from November 2024.
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