Archaeologists from Poland discovered unknown petroglyphs of the III century on the border of the American states of Colorado and Utah
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Archaeologists from the Jagiellonian University in southern Poland discovered ancient Indian paintings and carvings on the border of the American states of Colorado and Utah.
Polish archaeologists have explored this area for more than ten years and studied the secrets of the 3,000-year-old culture of the Pueblo (Indian peoples of North America), writes Arkeonews.
Professor Radoslav Palonka of the Jagiellonian University, who has been leading the research since 2011, says that the obtained results fundamentally change the idea of the settlement of this territory. His team is one of the few European archaeological groups working in this region.
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Research is conducted in the Castle Rock Pueblo settlement complex, located on the border of the states of Colorado and Utah. These places are popular not only among archaeologists, but also among tourists, because of the famous pre-Columbian settlements built in rock niches or carved into the canyon walls.
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| These places are popular not only among archaeologists, but also among tourists |
“Pueblo agricultural communities created one of the most advanced pre-Columbian cultures in North America. They perfected the art of building multi-story stone buildings that resembled medieval townhouses or even later apartment buildings. The Pueblo people were also famous for their petroglyphs, elaborately ornamented jewelry, and pottery with a variety of motifs painted in black pigment on a white background“, says Professor Palonka.
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| Pueblo farming communities created one of the most advanced pre-Columbian cultures in North America |
One of the most important discoveries of the Palonka team was the unknown petroglyphs at an altitude of 800 meters (2,625 feet), located above the settlement on the rock. These petroglyphs, which were used for astronomical observations and determining the calendar in the 13th century, changed the ideas of scientists about the population and religious practices of that period.
The oldest petroglyphs depicting warriors and shamans date back to the 3rd century AD. Most of the petroglyphs belong to the XII-XIII centuries, notes Palonka.
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| Most of the petroglyphs belong to the XII-XIII centuries |
These carvings come in a variety of shapes, including intricate geometric shapes and spirals. They mostly depict shamans, warriors, bison, deer and mountain sheep, and some depict hunting scenes.
In the 15th-17th centuries, when the Ute tribe inhabited this area, large scenes of bison, mountain sheep and deer hunting began to appear on the rock panels. Later, horses began to be depicted there, which marks the period of the Spanish conquests, before which these animals were unknown to the native inhabitants of North America.
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Among the most recent petroglyphs is the 1936 signature of Ira Cuthair, a famous cowboy known not only in Utah or Colorado, but also in Arizona and New Mexico.
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| ALL PHOTOS: Jagiellonian University |
The Polish team is waiting for further discoveries, as well as for a detailed 3D map of the canyons prepared by researchers from the University of Houston. This map was created using LIDAR and optical surveys conducted from a height of 450 meters above the canyons.
Polish archaeologists are also working closely with local Native American groups, such as the Hopi and Ute tribes, helping them understand Native iconography and art, Palonka said.
Read also: A 500-year-old “tablet with a curse” was found in Germany
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