They show an alien world: what did the elders of the aboriginal tribes tell the scientists about the cave paintings of the Amazon?

Researchers from the University of Exeter have recently shed new light on the enigmatic rock paintings scattered across the Amazon, proposing a unique interpretation that challenges conventional assumptions about their meaning.

These ancient artworks, discovered in the Colombian Amazon, have long fascinated archaeologists and anthropologists, and the Exeter team’s findings add a compelling layer to the ongoing exploration of their significance.

To unravel the mysteries embedded in these creations, the scientists turned to a vital source of knowledge: the indigenous elders who continue to inhabit the region to this day. The Colombian Amazon, a lush and remote expanse, is home to thousands of these striking rock art pieces, as highlighted in a report by Phys.org. By conducting in-depth surveys with the elders, the researchers sought to bridge the gap between modern understanding and the ancient perspectives that shaped these works.

The rock paintings themselves are a vivid gallery of the past, with the majority showcasing intricate scenes of wild animals—jaguars, deer, and birds—intertwined with depictions of hunting. These images, etched into cave walls and rock shelters, date back over 11,000 years, offering a window into a world long vanished.

What struck the scientists as particularly astonishing, however, was the elders’ revelation about the intent behind these artworks. Contrary to the initial hypothesis that the paintings were straightforward representations of the artists’ daily lives or natural surroundings, the elders explained that they held a far deeper, more symbolic purpose.

According to the indigenous oral traditions shared with the team, the ancient artists were not merely documenting their environment—they were channeling something far more profound. The creators of these works, often ritual specialists or shamans, used the paintings as a medium to connect with spiritual realms.

The art, the elders revealed, was a visual expression of transformation, capturing the metamorphosis of human and animal bodies as they crossed boundaries between the physical and metaphysical worlds. Far from being simple illustrations of hunting or survival, the drawings served as a bridge between two dimensions, encoding the relationship between human communities and the non-human entities they revered or encountered in their cosmology.

Jamie Hampson, the lead author of the study, emphasized the significance of this discovery. He noted that the rock art conceals a wealth of insights into how these ancient Amazonian societies perceived their place in the universe.

The paintings illuminate not only their interactions with the tangible world—plants, animals, and landscapes—but also their engagement with the unseen forces that shaped their beliefs and rituals. This interplay between the material and the spiritual offers a richer understanding of how these communities thrived in harmony with their environment and navigated the complexities of existence.

The findings have far-reaching implications for future research. Armed with this new perspective, scientists are now poised to delve deeper into the cultural and historical context of the rock art, peeling back layers of meaning that have remained hidden for millennia. The elders’ testimony has sparked fresh curiosity about the motivations driving the creation of these works, prompting questions about the role of ritual, identity, and cosmology in early human societies.

As the University of Exeter team continues its work, their collaboration with the indigenous peoples of the Colombian Amazon underscores the importance of integrating living traditions with archaeological inquiry, ensuring that the voices of the past—and present—resonate in harmony.