Monumental snake engravings of the Orinoco River

Bibliographic Data

ID3429126
AuthorsPhilip Riris (0000-0003-4244-7495, Bournemouth University, corresponding author), John Rathbone Oliver (0000-0002-8270-1083, University College London), Natalia Lozada Mendieta (0000-0001-7775-5688, Universidad de los Andes)
Year2024
Volume98
Issue399
Pages724-742
Publication date2024-06-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAntiquity (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-598X • E-ISSN: 1745-1744
PublisherAntiquity Publications (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.15184/aqy.2024.55
OpenAlexW4399327554
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited10

Rock art of the Middle and Upper Orinoco River in South America is characterised by some of the largest and most enigmatic engravings in the world, including snakes exceeding 40m in length. Here, the authors map the geographic distribution of giant snake motifs and assess the visibility of this serpentine imagery within the Orinoco landscape and Indigenous myths. Occupying prominent outcrops that were visible from great distances, the authors argue that the rock art provided physical reference points for cosmogonic myths, acting as border agents that structured the environment and were central to Indigenous placemaking along the rivers of lowland South America

Archaeology · Art · Geography · Archaeology and Natural History · Geology · Latin American history and culture

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access