Pre-Columbian Rock Art at the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor

Pre-Columbian Rock Art at the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor Arte rupestre precolombino del Corredor Biológico Alexander Skutch

During the month of July, the division of Community Rural Tourism of the Association of Women of the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor, received the archeologist Iphigenia Quintanilla, recognized for her research on pre-Columbian stone spheres.

Near her, we visited special places in the community of Santa Elena where we found rock art engraved in stone, mainly in large  igneous rocks detached from the great massif of the Talamanca mountain range. The creators of these representations were the ancient inhabitants, called «abubaes», who after the Spanish conquest were displaced by the settlers towards Boruca and other indigenous communities south of Pérez Zeledón.

For them the art of stone engraving was a slow and laborious process, for which they carefully selected the stone to work, and prepared their surface in order to detail with more precision with their rudimentary chisels, different motifs or figures among which the spirals, circles and lines, as well as figures representing human, animal or plant forms.

Pre-Columbian Rock Art at the Alexander Skutch Biological Corridor Arte rupestre precolombino del Corredor Biológico Alexander Skutch

Only in the community of Santa Elena de General more than 70 large illustrated rocks have been georeferenced. They are associated with other archaeological finds such as ceramic pieces among which are vessels and other everyday items, some with more than 2000 years old.

The reasons that led them to make this type of expressions on stone could be very varied, some probably tell important stories for those ancient societies that should endure over time. His contemplation always leads us to many questions, dragging us to a path that connects the past with the present. It is evident that what was recorded in stone is a message, to interpret it we must understand the context of its creation centuries ago, how those people lived and what their concerns were.

It is also important to emphasize that although these pieces are patrimony of the Costa Rican state, they are in private properties, so the visit must be coordinated.

By Susana García Blanco


Contact Info: Biol. Susana García Blanco Costa Rica Birding B&B susana.cotinga@gmail.com

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