Symbolic Landscapes and Rock Painting at Casharumi: An Interdisciplinary Approach from the Ecuadorian Andes

Abstract

This paper presents a preliminary study of the rock art site at Casharumi, Paute, Ecuador. Around 30 pictorial representations were recorded, including circular motifs and anthropomorphic figures, possibly made with hematite. Through fieldwork and dialogue with local inhabitants, oral narratives associated with huacas, rivers, caves, and burials were identified, which give symbolic meanings to the landscape. The study highlights the importance of approaching rock art from an interdisciplinary and participatory perspective, considering both material culture and intangible heritage in Andean contexts. It also warns that the rock paintings are located on a rocky column that is in the process of detaching, which puts the physical and symbolic integrity of this heritage asset at risk. Finally, it suggests the use of technologies to document the site more accurately, detect non-visible elements, and monitor the deterioration of the rock surface.