Petroglyphic images and the sacred valleys

Abstract

The origins of American rock art derive from symbolic elements that follow the dynamics of migration of human groups during the Upper Paleolithic. It is a universal language of conceptual expression, enabling those who come close to a sacred area, with the presence of rock art, to identify issues pertaining to local history, but also enabling others to date an emblematic cultural heritage present in the Andean territory. The largest concentration of petroglyphs is in areas where earthquakes have caused landslides and fractures in stone blocks. Between Palpa and Nasca, there are numerous rock-art sites which have common elements of religious themes and symbols. Frequently, the rock-art sites have all the features required to be considered sacred. They are a sort of large open-air temple, where rocks become the most suitable material on which to inscribe thoughts and concerns, or to fix events in history and recognize common traditions linked to religion and ancient myths.