Rock Art and the Creation of Landscape at Callacpuma, Peru

Summary

Numerous rock art panels dot the landscape of the Late Intermediate Period (AD 1000-AD 1450) site of Callacpuma in the Cajamarca Basin of northern Peru. The panels are comprised of many distinct motifs and types including a variety of camelids, anthropomorphs, geometric patterns and other zoomorphs. Although the iconographic information held within these motifs is certainly important, this project attempts to move beyond the iconographic significance of individual motifs or panels and examine the use of rock art to form the landscape. At Callacpuma, art is spread across large portions of the site and more than 80 panels have been surveyed and systematically recorded to date. GIS analysis is used to examine the spatial patterning of the panels, focusing on the relationship between rock art, important physical features, and elevation. Consideration is given to the spatial relationship of rock art motifs and panels and how these patterns can be used to infer the function and meanings of rock art in shaping the physical and social landscape at the site.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 21954