TRACCEFeatured Archives - Page 5 of 8

Archive for Featured

The Incomplete Versus The Unfinished

July 8, 2019 Academics, Featured, Geoglyphs, North America, South America, TRACCE Onl. RA Bull.44 No comments

Only the manufacturer of a rock art image could reliably have informed us whether a rock art image is unfinished or whether it is incomplete. Unfortunately informed knowledge is often completely unavailable. Then only the image and its graphical and cultural context are available to possibly separate the unfinished from the incomplete. Additionally, the incomplete image may even include something invisible. To address these issues I will use the rich rock art repertoire of the Desert Andes, focussing mainly on Toro Muerto and Miculla, two enormous rock art sites in the south of Peru.

By Maarten van Hoek

Calling Cards: a New Plains Rock Art Site Type

July 6, 2019 Academics, Ethnography - Etnografia, Featured, North America, TRACCE Onl. RA Bull.44 No comments

Calling Card rock art sites, drawn by war parties in enemy territory to taunt their adversaries by illustrating deeds executed against them, are a newly identified site type on the northern Plains of North America. One such site is Cheval Bonnet, a small petroglyph in Northern Montana. Containing coup counting and horse raiding narratives from the early 1800s, analysis of these images shows that most of the petroglyphs can be identified as Crow drawings, even though they are carved in the heart of Historic Blackfeet tribal territory. Once this site was identified as a calling card petroglyph, I was able to identify three others elsewhere on the northern Plains (PDF available).

by James D. KEYSER Read more

Balma dei Cervi, at the roots of our prehistory

May 15, 2019 Alpine rock art - Arte rupestre alpina, Featured, TRACCE Onl. RA Bull.44, Tracing, Western Alps No comments

Il territorio di Crodo ospita una delle più importanti pareti con pitture rupestri preistoriche di tutto l’arco alpino. Oltre 100 figure dipinte, di cui trenta umane maschili e femminili, schematiche, a braccia in su e in giù, quasi tutte prive di testa, forse anche con scene di parto. Numerosi gli allineamenti di pallini, spesso abbinati ai personaggi umani. One of the most important rock shelters with prehistoric paintings in the whole of the Alpine Arc is found in the territory of Crodo. Over 100 painted images have been recorded, including 30 schematic male and female human figures, some with upraised arms others facing downwards, almost all of which are without a head, including some possible representations of birth scenes..

by Andrea ARCÀ, Angelo Eugenio FOSSATI Read more

Balma dei Cervi, archaeology and research

May 15, 2019 3D, Alpine rock art - Arte rupestre alpina, Archaeology, Featured, Methods - metodi, TRACCE Onl. RA Bull.44, Western Alps No comments

Le pitture della Balma dei Cervi, soggette ai danni del tempo e ai rischi di degrado antropico, costituiscono un bene culturale raro, prezioso ed estremamente delicato. Le esigenze di protezione e le notevoli difficoltà di accesso ne sconsigliano la musealizzazione in loco. Il programma di documentazione, valorizzazione e comunicazione è coordinato dalla Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio.. The rock paintings of the Shelter of the Deer are rare, precious an extremely delicate cultural assets. They are endangered by the deterioration of time and by the risks of damage caused by humans. Safeguard requirements and difficulties in access discourage the creation of a Museum in the field. The documentation, valorisation and communication plan is coordinated by the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape.

by Francesco RUBAT BOREL Read more

The Cupules of the Imaoun Complex, Southern Morocco

April 17, 2019 Academics, Cup marks - coppelle, Featured, Morocco, TRACCE Onl. RA Bull.44 No comments

In the area just south of the Anti-Atlas numerous rock art sites have been recorded. However, there are remarkably few rock art panels with cupules in that area. This study describes a surprisingly high number of cupule panels in the Imaoun area, north of the town of Akka in southern Morocco, which represents a true anomaly in this respect.

By Maarten van Hoek

Valcamonica fieldwork 2019, again rock art!

February 17, 2019 Alpine rock art - Arte rupestre alpina, Featured, News - announcements - notizie, TRACCE Onl. RA Bull.44 No comments

Tracing prehistory: from July 18 to August 08 2019 the annual archaeology field school at Paspardo will be open to archaeologists, scholars, students and enthusiasts. We are working on engraved rocks made by prehistoric and protohistoric people during the Neolithic (six thousand years ago), Bronze Age and Iron Age (from four thousand to two thousand years ago).This area gives a great opportunity to learn, survey, photograph, draw and catalogue the rock engravings. The program involves field research, documentation, tracing, guided visits and lectures. Fieldwork is organised by Footsteps of Man, Valcamonica. Infos, poster and photo-galleries here available.

by Angelo Eugenio Fossati

The Saluting Anthropomorph in the Rock Art of the Americas

September 30, 2018 Academics, Featured, North America, South America, TRACCE Onl. RA Bull.43 No comments

Although in general complex biomorphic figures in rock art are not suitable to demonstrate diffusion, there is one idiosyncratic anthropomorphic figure the in rock art repertoire of the Americas, which, although it is very rare, has a remarkably wide distribution that might indicate long-distance diffusion. I have labelled this icon the Saluting Anthropomorph. See the UPDATE at the end of the paper.

By Maarten van Hoek Read more

Long Distance Diffusion of Rock Art Motifs in the Americas

September 7, 2018 Academics, Africa, America, Australia, Europe, Featured, Mid-America, Morocco, North America, South America, TRACCE Onl. RA Bull.43 No comments

Rock art motifs are found in every inhabited continent. In most cases those motifs develop independently, but it is also certain that specific rock art motifs migrated from one area to another area, sometimes travelling for thousands of kilometres. This study investigates the possible long-distance diffusion of a number of abstract rock art motifs along the Pacific seaboard of the Americas.

By Maarten van Hoek Read more

Indifferent Obliteration of Petroglyph Art

August 9, 2018 Academics, Featured, North America, South America, TRACCE Onl. RA Bull.43 No comments

Petroglyphs are often found superimposed by other petroglyphs, but in some cases they have also been (partially) obliterated by hammering, rubbing or polishing of the rock’s surface. This short study investigates a number of cases in North and South America where petroglyphs may have (and in some cases definitely have) been obliterated by such grinding activities. This study therefore strongly recommend to accurately record instances where grinding activities took place, even when there are no petroglyphs visible.

By Maarten van Hoek

The ‘Trophy-Bird’ of Alto de Pitis

June 8, 2018 Academics, Africa, Featured, Morocco, South America, TRACCE Onl. RA Bull.43 No comments

This paper provides a few examples of petroglyphs that have drastically been transformed by later rock art manufacturers. However, it focuses on one specific petroglyph, which is found at Alto de Pitis in the Majes Valley of southern Peru; aptly called ‘The Death Valley of the Andes’. In this paper I tentatively argue that the unique ‘Trophy-Bird’ petroglyph of Alto de Pitis initially started off as a ‘trophy’ head, which was later intentionally transformed to symbolise the Supernatural Flight of the Dead towards Apu Coropuna, the Sacred Mountain of the area.

by Maarten van Hoek

Valcamonica fieldwork 2018, join rock art!

May 30, 2018 Alpine rock art - Arte rupestre alpina, Featured, News - announcements - notizie, TRACCE Onl. RA Bull.43 No comments

campo estivo 2018

Tracing prehistory: from July 19 to August 09 2018 the annual archaeology field school at Paspardo will be open to archaeologists, scholars, students and enthusiasts. We are working on engraved rocks made by prehistoric and protohistoric people during the Neolithic (six thousand years ago), Bronze Age and Iron Age (from four thousand to two thousand years ago).This area gives a great opportunity to learn, survey, photograph, draw and catalogue the rock engravings. The program involves field research, documentation, tracing, guided visits and lectures. Fieldwork is organised by Footsteps of Man, Valcamonica. Infos, poster and photo-galleries here available.

by Angelo Eugenio Fossati

Una Actualización del Arte Rupestre del Cerro la Puntilla, Perú

March 4, 2018 Academics, Featured, South America, TRACCE Onl. RA Bull.43 No comments

Este artículo trata sobre el sitio de arte rupestre de La Puntilla en el norte de Perú. Aunque pasé este sitio muchas veces no lo he visitado. Sin embargo, el sitio tiene varios paneles muy interesantes con petroglifos – todos reportados por primera vez por el arqueólogo aficionado local, Francisco Gregorio Díaz Núñez – que serán discutidos en este artículo.

Una Actualización del Arte Rupestre de Chumbenique – Perú

January 24, 2018 Academics, Featured, South America, TRACCE Onl. RA Bull.43 No comments

En 2016 visitamos por primera vez el sitio de arte rupestre de Chumbenique en el Valle de Zaña en el norte de Perú. Con base en nuestras investigaciones publiqué un artículo preliminar sobre los petroglifos de Chumbenique (Van Hoek 2016a). En mi artículo de 2016 mencioné que registramos 32 bloques con petroglifos . Sin embargo, volvimos a Chumbenique en septiembre de 2017 para una investigación más exhaustiva y pudimos agregar 21 rocas con petroglifos más. De ahí esta actualización.

Una Actualización del Arte Rupestre de Mayasgo-1 (Perú)

December 16, 2017 Academics, Featured, South America, TRACCE Onl. RA Bull.42 No comments

En noviembre 2016 Daniel Castillo Benítez y María Susana Barrau informaron sobre el sitio de arte rupestre de Mayasgo-1 en el Valle de Carabamba en el norte de Perú. En septiembre de 2017 investigué el mismo sitio y descubrí más petroglifos. Por lo tanto, este artículo ofrece una actualización del artículo de Castillo y Barrau.

In November 2016 Daniel Castillo Benítez and María Susana Barrau reported the rock art site of Mayasgo-1 in the Carabamba Valley of northern Peru. In September 2017 I surveyed the same site and discovered more petroglyphs. Therefore this paper offers an update of the report by Castillo and Barrau.

‘Petroglifos’ Aviformes Tridimensionales (Perú)

December 1, 2017 Academics, Featured, Interpretation and semiotics, South America, TRACCE Onl. RA Bull.42 No comments

This study discusses some rare instances of biomorphic rock formations that also bear petroglyphs, which, in some cases enhance the biomorphic character of the rock. The focus in this study is on the Sacred Sitting Bird at Cerro La Puntilla in northern Peru.

Este estudio discute algunos casos raros de formaciones rocosas biomórficas que también tienen petroglifos, que, en algunos casos, mejoran el carácter biomórfico de la roca. El enfoque en este estudio está en el Ave Sagrado Sentado en Cerro La Puntilla en el norte de Perú.

Un Sitio Rupestre Poco Conocido en Chicama, Perú

November 5, 2017 Academics, Featured, South America, TRACCE Onl. RA Bull.42 No comments

En el Valle de Chicama en el norte de Perú hay muchos sitios de arte rupestre. Más de 20 sitios han sido reportados en esta cuenca (Castillo Benites 2006). Sin embargo, hay sólo unos pocos sitios que tienen un gran número de paneles con petroglifos. La mayoría de los otros sitios de la cuenca de Chicama tienen sólo uno o algunos paneles de petroglifos y la mayoría de ellos son poco conocidos. Este artículo se trata de un sitio poco conocido en Chicama.

By Maarten van Hoek

Aiapaec in Andean Rock Art ?

November 5, 2017 Academics, Featured, South America, TRACCE Onl. RA Bull.42 No comments

Aiapaec probably was the supreme divinity of the Mochica pantheon, an ancient civilisation that emerged in the coastal strip of northern Peru. There are numerous often much differing depictions of full zoo-anthropomorphic figures and – especially – of isolated heads in the Huaca de la Luna near Trujillo that are said to represent Aiapaec. In view of the importance of Aiapaec in this part of Peru it is extraordinary that there are no unambiguous depictions of undeniable Moche origin of this personage in Andean rock art. This paper discusses that problem and describes seven petroglyphs that might symbolise Aiapaec.

By Maarten van Hoek

Actualización del arte rupestre de Cojitambo, Perú

October 23, 2017 Academics, Featured, South America, TRACCE Onl. RA Bull.42 No comments

La única descripción “científica” publicada sobre el sitio de arte rupestre de Cojitambo en el valle del Río Chicama, norte de Perú, es del arqueólogo académico Castillo Benites de Trujillo, Perú (2006). Su breve publicación tenía una necesidad desesperada de ser revisada. Este artículo ofrece una actualización de tres paneles en Cojitambo.

The only ‘scientific’ description published about the rock art site of Cojitambo in the valley of the Río Chicama, northern Peru, is by academic archaeologist Castillo Benites from Trujillo Peru (2006). His brief publication was in desperate need to be revised. This article offers an update of three panels at Cojitambo.

By Maarten van Hoek