3,800-year-old relief painting discovered in Peru
The wall carvings of human heads, seeds and snakes are said to represent the fertility of the land in the Caral civilization.
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Clay wall relief at Vichama archaeological site. Photo:AFP. |
After several weeks of excavation, the Peruvian Ministry of Culture on August 16 announced a relief painting dating back about 3,800 years at the Vichama archaeological site north of the Peruvian capital Lima. The painting was identified as belonging to the ancient Caral civilization, which was born more than 5,000 years ago.AFPreport
The relief was found on a clay wall measuring one meter high and 2.8 meters wide, facing a cultivated field in the Huaura Valley. The painting, which features human faces, snakes and seeds, is believed to represent the fertility of the land in the Caral civilization.
According to archaeologist Ruth Shady, head of the research team, the human face represents the residents of Caral, while the snake represents the gods associated with water that helps seeds germinate and grow.
However, the Vichama archaeological site, which contains the remains of the Caral civilization, is one of the driest regions in Peru today. The new findings have led many experts to believe that climate change was the cause of the collapse of what is believed to be the oldest civilization in the Americas.