Estudio arqueológico y fisicoquímico de pinturas rupestres en Hornillos 2 (Puna de Jujuy)

Abstract

This paper presents new evidence on rupestrian art from a rock shelter in the Puna of Jujuy, attributed to Early/Middle Holocene hunter-gatherers. Figurative rather than abstract-geometric, these paintings differ from those found in the area so far. The physicochemical analysis of the paint on rock walls, pigments from different occupational levels, and red pigments found on a stone pestle, allow us to reconstruct how pigments were made both identifying the raw materials used and the way they were selected. Finally, we discuss the spatial and chronological implications with reference to the distribution of geometric and figurative paintings in the Puna.