Mexico unveils stone-age etchings

[Judi Lynn]

9 July 2013 Last updated at 04:11 ET
Mexico unveils stone-age etchings




Archaeologists in Mexico have catalogued thousands of etchings carved into stones that they believe were made by hunter-gatherers 6,000 years ago.

The carvings, known as petroglyphs, mostly consist of wavy lines and concentric circles, with some images representing deer tracks.

Some 8,000 images were found at the site in Narigua in northern Mexico.

Experts say the etchings may be part of hunter-gatherer initiation rites, or representations of stars.

The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) says it is now preparing to allow tourists into the site, some 100km (60 miles) west of the city of Monterrey.

More:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-23238606

[bluedigger]

1. Or evidence of early dating rituals.

"Hey, baby, want to climb up to the top of this cliff and see my etchings?"

[Judi Lynn]

2. Archaeologists discover hundreds of prehistoric rock carvings

Archaeologists discover hundreds of prehistoric rock carvings
07-12-2013 09:40 BJT

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Archaeologists in Mexico have discovered one of the world’s largest collections of prehistoric rock art. Experts believe the intricate etchings found in the White Desert of Coahuila were created by desert nomads that roamed the area 6,000 years ago.

Some 8,000 images of concentric circles and lines were carved into some 500 rocks across the Nariagua Sierra and are believed to feature distinct representations of hunter-gatherer camps as well as a symbolic language from clans that once littered the area.

Depicting animals and the hunting habits of hunter-gatherer groups, experts believe the findings could reveal new insights into the lifestyles and territorial boundaries of these ancient clans. Experts have been searching the site since August and have also discovered cooking utensils such as hotplates and arrowheads across the area. The site is now open to the public.

http://english.cntv.cn/program/cultureexpress/20130712/101961.shtml

(2 photos, 1 video at link.)