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Petroglyphs at Cerro Mal Paso, Peru

This paper describes the several rock art panels recorded by us after 2012 at the rock art site of Cerro Mal Paso in the Chancay Valley of northern Peru. In addition also some other petroglyph- panels at the site have been recorded by other explorers, as well as a few petroglyph panels recorded by others beyond Cerro Mal Paso. The focus of the paper is on a rather enigmatic image, a possible anthropomorphic-zoomorphic figure (lizard or bird?), while this study also offers a tentative explanation of the anthropomorphic-zoomorphic figure.

By Maarten van Hoek

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“Trophy” Head # 42 at Toro Muerto?

This short note discusses a possible addition of a “Trophy” Head petroglyph at Toro Muerto, southern Peru. Toro Muerto has the biggest concentration of “Trophy” Head petroglyphs in the Desert Andes. This paper suggests that another example can be added to the grand total, but simultaneously proposes that this new (possible) find – and many other panels at Toro Muerto – should be photographed in optimal circumstances to ascertain its identification.

By Maarten van Hoek

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New “Snake” Petroglyphs – Vítor Valley, Peru

This short paper discusses two new finds of specific biomorphic petroglyphs in the Vítor Valley of Southern Peru and its distribution within the Majes Rock Art Style (MRAS). It proves that this type of biomorphic image is overrepresented in the Vítor Drainage.

By Maarten van Hoek

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A New “Venus” Cross Petroglyph

This short paper discusses a new find of another petroglyph depicting the “Venus-Cross” in the Vítor Valley of Southern Peru. The paper also reviews its distribution within the Majes Rock Art Style (MRAS) and within a much larger area (the Desert Andes). It proves that – for still some unknown reason – the “Venus-Cross” is overrepresented in the Vítor Drainage.

By Maarten van Hoek

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Commenting on Rozwadowski and Wołoszyn

This paper reviews the publication by academic archaeologists, Andrzej Rozwadowski and Janusz Z. Wołoszyn, in which they suggest that zigzag petroglyphs at Toro Muerto in the Majes Valley of southern Peru – constituting the most important rock art site in the Desert Andes of South America – could be representations of songs. In my paper I question a number of their suggestions and statements by trying to put the whole issue in a more appropriate context. I cannot refute their theory, but my objections makes it unlikely (though not impossible) that Toro Muerto zigzags indeed represent songs.

By Maarten van Hoek

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Animated Abstracts in Majes Rock Art

This paper is one of a series of studies that investigates the rock art of the Majes Rock Art Style (MRAS) in southern Peru. This time I focus on petroglyphs of long, pecked stripes that have been animated by the prehistoric Majes People. I now argue that those Animated Stripes and many other typical MRAS images (discussed earlier by me; see my bibliography), including another icon (the “Majes Spitter”, which is the subject of my next study) created the Toro Muerto Anomaly, which – unfortunately – is either unknown or neglected by archaeologists busy in the Majes Valley.

By Maarten van Hoek

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Imaoun – Morocco: the Venus Cross

Imaoun-1 is one of the most important rock art sites in southern Morocco. In this study I briefly describe the array of petroglyphs at this site, comprising cupules, abstract motifs and patterns and biomorphic images. Imaoun-1 is also special because of its overrepresentation of abstract imagery. In this study I focus on one specific abstract petroglyph (said to have megalithic connotations), and – in more detail – on the Venus Cross, a globally widespread motif that is also overrepresented in this small part of Morocco. Its possible origin and journey across the prehistoric landscapes are also discussed.

By Maarten van Hoek.

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Petroglyphs of Tourirt-n-Tislatine – Morocco

This small petroglyph site in southern Morocco has – despite its limited number of decorated panel – a rather large variety of images. There are petroglyphs of quadrupeds (felines, bovines, antelopes, an elephant, perhaps a goat), some birds (probably ostriches) and one simple, yet interesting petroglyph of an outlined anthropomorphic figure. The site is very easily accessible and thus suffers from vandalism.

By Maarten van Hoek

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Petroglyphs of Imaoun-3A – Southern Morocco

This paper describes a modest petroglyph site just south of the Anti-Atlas of southern Morocco. It is found on a rocky hill, called Jorf Naga, where at least three other rock art sites have been recorded. All four sites play an important role in the rock art traditions of the most important rock art complex of Imaoun and the drainage of Wadi Akka, which – in ancient times – was definitely used as an important north-south migratory route through the Anti-Atlas to the contact zone with the Sahara.

By Maarten van Hoek

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Petroglyphs of Tizounine. Southern Morocco

This petroglyph site – located in the far south of Morocco – has only a small number of decorated panels. Yet there is a surprising variety in imagery, which ranges from biomorphic figures (mainly quadrupeds of the Tazina Style) and abstract motifs, one of which may well depict an (unplayable) game-board. A few (abstract?) motifs are enigmatic.

By Maarten van Hoek

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The Petroglyphs of Jebel Youmkat, Morocco

This paper describes the petroglyphs that my wife and I recorded at the rock art site of Jebel Youmkat in Wadi Tamanart in 2019. As far as I could check, this site has not been published anywhere. The petroglyphs mainly concern images of quadrupeds and some ostriches.

By Maarten van Hoek

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The Archers of Oum el Aleg, Morocco

This paper deals with the petroglyph site of Oum el Aleg near Akka in the far south of Morocco. The main subject of the paper is that I argue that there possibly are three images of archers, two of which possibly engaged in a hunting scene. The paper is accompanied by a video about Oum el Aleg, which can be viewed at YouTube.

By Maarten van Hoek

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A Study of Boulder AP3-065 – Peru

This paper presents the fifth case in my series of articles in which I discuss a selection of petroglyph boulders at Alto de Pitis, in the Majes Valley of southern Peru. It especially discusses a controversial petroglyph of an anthropomorph that has been interpreted in two most different ways. One rendering of the figure is questioned in this study (updated September 2023).

By Maarten van Hoek

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Majes Rock Art – evaluating a thesis

This paper analyses the 2018-thesis by Prof. Scaffidi. It concerns a revision (dated September 2023).

by Maarten van Hoek

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The “Camelines” of Toro Muerto

In general, it proves to be rather awkward (or even impossible) to establish the exact species of biomorphic images depicted at Toro Muerto (Peru), and thus this is even more problematic for conflations of two or more animals. In this study I argue that at Toro Muerto several petroglyphs of quadrupeds may well depict a specific conflation. With a number of illustrations I will demonstrate that this hypothesis is not far-fetched at all.

By Maarten van Hoek

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The Case of Boulder AP3-098, Alto de Pitis

This paper – the fourth in a series about Alto de Pitis, all published in TRACCE – discusses some specific petroglyphs on Boulder AP3-098, focusing on the possible therianthrope on one of its panels.

By Maarten van Hoek

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Personaggi dell’arte rupestre della Valcamonica: Emanuele Süss

Emanuele Süss (1909-1996) è stata una figura molto importante per le ricerche e la diffusione dell’arte rupestre della Valcamonica nei primi anni ’50 del ’900. Dopo averle catalogate, disegnò la pianta con la numerazione delle rocce del Parco nazionale nell’area di Naquane. Fu autore del volume “Le Incisioni rupestri della Valcamonica” che ebbe una grande fortuna e che andò incontro a numerose ristampe.  (PDF available)

by Angelo Eugenio FOSSATI – Le Orme dell’Uomo Read more

Personaggi dell’arte rupestre della Valcamonica: Giovanni Marro

Giovanni Marro (1875-1952) è senza dubbio la figura più discussa tra tutti i ricercatori dell’arte rupestre della Valcamonica nella prima metà del ’900. E’ importante sottolineare il ruolo dello studioso nell’ambito delle scoperte. Egli percorreva i boschi a piedi inoltrandosi nei castagneti dov’erano presenti le rocce incise – infatti è ricordato anche come “il grande camminatore” – e scopriva le figure rupestri rimuovendo l’humus, spesso con l’aiuto di persone del posto, tra le quali il Marro utilizzava soprattutto Giuseppe Amaracco di Capo di Ponte. (PDF available)

by Angelo Eugenio FOSSATI – Le Orme dell’Uomo Read more

Personaggi dell’arte rupestre della Valcamonica: Giovanni Marini

Giovanni Marini era davvero instancabile e appena poteva conduceva in visita gruppi italiani – anche scuole – e stranieri interessati a vedere il Parco di Luine con le incisioni rupestri più antiche della Valle. Una rara fotografia scattata nell’ottobre del 1990 lo ritrae seduto sulla roccia n. 73 ed intento a illustrare alcune figure di mani, rappresentazioni tra le più rare del Parco.  (PDF available).

by Angelo Eugenio FOSSATI – Le Orme dell’Uomo Read more

Personaggi dell’arte rupestre della Valcamonica: Battista Maffessoli

Il mondo accademico italiano e straniero deve molto a Battista Maffessoli, artigiano, artista eclettico (pittore e scultore) dalla complessa personalità, guida alle incisioni rupestri per gruppi – sono nell’ordine di migliaia le persone che negli anni ha accompagnato a visitare le incisioni rupestri – e singoli, tra cui vanno annoverati praticamente tutti gli studiosi oggi attivi nelle ricerche dell’arte rupestre della Valcamonica.  (PDF available).

by Angelo Eugenio FOSSATI – Le Orme dell’Uomo Read more

Personaggi dell’arte rupestre della Valcamonica: Jack Belmondo

Il percorso artistico e archeologico sperimentale di Jack Belmondo – nome d’arte di Giuseppe Belfiore Mondoni non può essere separato dal suo luogo di nascita, Cerveno, piccolo paese della media Valcamonica. Le prime ricostruzioni di archeologia sperimentale – modellini di capanne, di carri ed aratri – furono da lui eseguite nel 1988 ed esposte nel Museo di Nadro sino al 1991. Tra il 1989 ed il 1990 iniziò le prime esperienze di fusione dei metalli, allo scopo di ottenere quelli che gli parevano i manufatti più interessanti.  (PDF available).

by Angelo Eugenio FOSSATI – Le Orme dell’Uomo Read more

Personaggi dell’arte rupestre della Valcamonica: Raffaello Battaglia

Raffaello Battaglia è il quarto studioso ad occuparsi dell’arte rupestre della Valcamonica dopo Laeng, Graziosi e Marro, ma fu sicuramente il primo ad occuparsene scientificamente, dopo Paolo Graziosi. Insieme a suoi collaboratori, rinvenne numerosi siti con incisioni. Tra queste, famosa resta la scoperta e pubblicazione delle rocce di Bedolina (PDF available).

by Angelo Eugenio FOSSATI – Le Orme dell’Uomo Read more

The Case of Boulder AP3-060, Alto de Pitis, Majes Valley

My paper describes the images on a boulder that has one of the most complex biomorphic petroglyphs in the Majes Valley and in Arequipa rock art. It may well be death-related, as will be demonstrated. Another death-related petroglyph on an adjoining panel definitely links the boulder – and the whole site – with Apu Coropuna, the most Sacred Mountain of the whole of southern Peru.

By  Maarten van Hoek
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Paolo Emilio Bagnoli and photometric 3D applied to rock art

Worldwide, Paolo Emilio Bagnoli, former full professor of Photonics and Optoelectronics at Pisa University, is among the few researchers active in the rock art field to apply to engraved rocks the method of 3D modelling on a photometric basis. As a tribute to his memory, it is appropriate to remember him in his own words in relation to the photometric technique applied to 3D modelling (PDF available).

by Andrea Arcà – Footprints of Man Read more

Vivere con l’arte rupestre nelle Alpi

Seminario di studi online
a cura della Cooperativa Archeologica
Le Orme dell’Uomo.
Venerdì 30 dicembre 2022
h 18:00-20:00 C.E.T.
YouTube: https://bit.ly/3WyPcJP

Le Orme dell’UomoFootsteps of Man Read more

Rock Art at Torán, Majes Valley, Peru

The paper proves that even “minor” rock art sites can be most interesting, especially when placing such a “minor” site in a larger local and regional context. Torán is such an important “minor” site, as it is clearly connected with the two most important “major” rock art sites in the valley; Toro Muerto and Alto de Pitis.

By Maarten van Hoek

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Rock Art at Punta Colorada, Majes, Peru

The paper proves that even “minor” rock art sites can be most interesting, especially when placing such a “minor” site in a larger local and regional context. Punta Colorada is such an important “minor” site as it may well connect (graphically, literally and metaphorically) two most important “major” rock art sites in the valley. Additionally, the site of Punta Colorada also seems to establish the spiritual link between certain rock art icons and Apu Coropuna, the Sacred Mountain of southern Peru.

By Maarten van Hoek

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The Case of Boulder AP3-172, Majes, Peru

This paper describes a huge boulder at Alto de Pitis in the Majes Valley of southern Peru. It has some enigmatic petroglyphs that will be fully discussed. Especially one type of image is most idiosyncratic. It may depict or symbolise domestication of felines.

By Maarten van Hoek

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The Petroglyphs of Cerro San Diego, Peru

This paper describes the petroglyph site of Cerro San Diego, north of Lima. The site has a rather unusual location. Moreover, it has some exceptional petroglyphs, for instance a large purported “eye-motif” from the Andean Formative Period.

By Maarten van Hoek

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Latmos Mountains (Turkey), endangered rock paintings

Latmos paintings

Baliktas paintings

The living environment of the Latmos Mountains and of its communities are threatened by the deforestation caused by feldspar quarrying. The cultural heritage looks back upon a long history, from the Neolithic period up to the Ottoman Empire. More than 170 sites of rock drawings (6th/5th millennia BC) are known, representing one of the most important discoveries in prehistoric archaeology during the past decades in Anatolia. Television documentaries, newspaper reports, symposia and demonstrations, have not succeeded in preventing the devastation of the landscape… please sign the online petition!

by Anneliese Peschlow-Bindokat

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Phaistos, Crete, cup-marks and other signs

Festos150

Phaistos, spiral

Rock art enthusiasts and researchers will be pleasantly surprised while discovering the moderate but diffused presence of Minoan Palaces “rock art”; two main categories are present: mason’s marks and cup-marks – so-called kernoi – all these engraved upon the ashlars limestone blocks of the Minoan Palaces, mainly in the first centuries of the 2nd millennium BC. Some interpretation problems arise, concerning the sacred or practical character of the marks and the use of the kernoi as offering tables or as popular or childish board games. A great concentration of such items may be found at the Phaistos Palace...

by Andrea Arcà



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L’arte rupestre dell’età dei metalli

locandinaL’arte rupestre dell’età dei metalli nella penisola italiana: Localizzazione dei siti in rapporto al territorio, simbologie e possibilità interpretative.

Tavola rotonda Venerdì 5 Giugno 2015 ore 9.30 – 18.00, sala conferenze del Cantiere delle Navi Antiche, via Ranuccio Bianchi Bandinelli 23, Pisa

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Phaistos Palace, mason’s marks photogallery

Phaistos_masonmark150

Phaistos, Crete

More than 220 mason’s marks are reported at Phaistos by Luigi Pernier in 1935, mostly connected to the First Palace. Some characteristics, as their positioning upon hidden faces of the blocks or traces of plastering testify that they were hidden from view after the completing of the palace; for these reasons we may argue that they were more likely connected to the building phases than to the symbolic decoration of the palace. [photogallery]

by AA

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Phaistos Palace, kernoi photogallery

Phaistos, Crete

Phaistos, Crete

At Phaistos Palace stone kernoi are interestingly concentrated over the limestone steps of the theatral terraces and along the paved flooring beneath. These kernoi appear worn, more likely for anthropic use than for natural weathering, so testifying foot traffic and/or the sitting of spectators. Depressions are too shallow to contain anything, apart from holding little pebbles or seeds. Such a connection with open-air shows or ceremonies would favour … [photogallery]

by AA

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Maroc, programme “Paysages Gravés”

00pays_gravBrève annonce sur le
programme “Paysages Gravés”
Mission du 4 au 10 novembre 2012
Région de Guelmim (bas Draa), Ifrane et vallée de Tamanart (Anti Atlas)

by Association Anti Atlas occidental
du tourisme montagnard
à Boutrouch Tafraout – Morocco Read more

TRACCE Online Rock Art Bulletin 35 – Mar 2015

TRACE35logo# 35 – Mar 2015 (abstracts of the CAA2015 rock art session)

TRACCE Online Rock Art Bulletin 35

––––––––––––––––––> by Footsteps of Man
edited by Le Orme dell’Uomo (Valcamonica – I)

35: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

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Chile, Photographic recording and digital enhancement

cerillo_cuenca1_150

Tracing

[CAA 2015 – session 3C abstract]

The digital recording of rock art has benefited of an increasing number of software solutions, mostly photogrammetry and the enhancement of pigments from photographs. During the last years we have utilized open source scientific libraries for enhance pigments in a currently under development software code named PyDRA…

by Enrique CERRILLO-CUENCA, Marcela SEPÚLVEDA




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Spanish rock-art documentation, the ARAM project

ARAM2_150

ARAM project

[CAA 2015 – session 3C abstract]

In the latest three years, we have applied our own documentation methodology over 45 rock-art shelters from different regions of Spain. We developed a register system that combines the data acquired by 3D scanning technology, photogrammetry, high-resolution spherical images …

by Jorge ANGAS, Manuel BEA


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Biological activity tracking on cave art sites

UVF-MAP_Pakhunov150

UVF

[CAA 2015 – session 3C abstract]

Micro-organisms populating caves produce organic acids that damage and dissolve a calcite substratum. This might have been the primary cause of degradation of numerous Palaeolithic paintings in many caves…

by Alexander PAKHUNOV






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Northern Scandinavia rock paintings: NIR analysis

1109_1_150

NIR analysis

[CAA 2015 – session 3C abstract]

Field based Near Infrared analysis of Rock paintings in northern Scandinavia. Seven different sites have been investigated and generated large amounts of multivariate data requiring multivariate data analysis…

by Johan LINDERHOLM, Paul GELADI, Claudia SCIUTO




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Great Rock of Naquane, digital practices

Naquane vector

Naquane vector

[CAA 2015 – session 3C abstract]

Like archaeology in general, rock art studies need to record, study and share data: a large set of electronic instruments – for graphics and for the data analysis – are to be intended as a fundamental tool box for the careful and up-to-date rock art archaeologist…

by Andrea ARCÀ




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Rock-art photometric Stereo 3D visualizations

Polesini cave

Polesini cave

[CAA 2015 – session 3C abstract]

Traditional 3D recording requires expensive equipment as the laser scanning systems, with complex and highly specialised software. These problems may be partly overcome by applying a consolidate technique generally used in quality controls within manufacturing industrial environments: the photometric stereo…

by Massimo VANZI, Paolo Emilio BAGNOLI,
Carla MANNU, Giuseppe RODRIGUEZ





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Extensive rock-art panels, computer aided recording

Bagnoli_Samueli2_150

Detail map

[CAA 2015 – session 3C abstract]

The communication deals with a method for graphical recording of planar engraved surfaces with wide extension able to maintain a high degree of accuracy and resolution. This method uses digital photography and a dedicated software and produce the map directly in a digital image format…

by Paolo Emilio BAGNOLI, Andrea SAMUELI




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3D scan, a support for Petroglyph analysis

dfdfd

Züschen I

[CAA 2015 – session 3C abstract]

Processed digital copies of the petroglyphs are visualised in order to enable the user to inspect the processed scans of the objects. By inspecting the scans the application provides a mass of functionality for achieving different views into the petroglyphs and their appearance….

by Frank BOOCHS, Stefanie WEFERS, Burkhard TIETZ, Tobias REICH




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Archaeoacoustics of rock art

3C session abstract

3C session abstract

[CAA 2015 – session 3C abstract]

Archaeoacoustics has made a breakthrough in the field of rock art research, as it represents a completely new way of studying the landscapes in which rock art was made…

by Margarita DIAZ-ANDREU, Tommaso MATTIOLI




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Photogrammetric techniques at Campo Lameiro, Galicia

Campo Lameiro

Campo Lameiro

[CAA 2015 – session 3C abstract]

We propose photogrammetry as a technique that allow us to create a 3D model, oriented to reduce the different problems of subjectivity that are present in the old systems of registry, and furthermore to study the rock surface without touching it…

by Benito VILAS, Alia VÁZQUEZ, Miguel CARRERO




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AaATec, a resource for archaeological communication

The AATEC journal

The AATEC journal

[CAA 2015 – session 3C abstract]

In 2013 a team of researchers from Russia has created an electronic International Journal Archaeoastronomy and Ancient Technologies – AaATec. The results of studies in the field of archeology and ancient technology, including related to the study and interpretation of rock art, are published in the journal…

by Larisa VODOLAZHSKAYA, Artem VODOLAZHSKIY




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