Engravings Up to 8,000 Years Old Found at 647 Meters Altitude: Archaeologists Discover Complex of Petroglyphs Featuring Spirals, Circles, and Human Figures in Quebrada Seca, Venezuela

Written by Romário Pereira de Carvalho

Published on 08/03/2026 at 00:22

Grande complexo encontrado no leste da Venezuela pode ter entre 4.000 e 8.000 anos de idade. Foto: Instituto Nacional da Terra da Venezuela

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Prehistoric Engravings Found in Quebrada Seca, Venezuela, Reveal Symbols Related to the Sun, Water, and Indigenous Ancestors and May Be Between 4,000 and 8,000 Years Old

A complex of petroglyphs was identified at the end of January in the Quebrada Seca community, in Cedeño municipality, Venezuela. The archaeological discovery, linked to ancient indigenous peoples, underscores the regional significance of the petroglyphs and may represent one of the oldest symbolic expressions in eastern Venezuela.

Discovery in Quebrada Seca

The find was announced on February 19 by Daniel Monteverde, the mayor of Cedeño. According to him, a large stone features engravings of spirals, concentric circles, and anthropomorphic figures associated with the worldview of indigenous peoples who inhabited the region.

The discovery was reported by the Venezuelan newspaper Últimas Notícias. The municipality of Cedeño is already regionally known as the capital of petroglyphs, mainly due to the cultural legacy left by the Chaima and Kariña peoples, historically referred to as “guardians of the mountains.”

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Age and Characteristics of the Engravings

The complex is located 647 meters above sea level. Researchers estimate the petroglyphs to be between 4,000 and 8,000 years old, which may place them among the oldest known symbolic representations in eastern Venezuela.

Technical analyses indicated that the engravings have an average depth of 1.24 centimeters and an approximate width of 1.71 centimeters.

Experts believe that the ancient artisans may have used abrasive stones combined with sand and water to create the incisions.

Petroglyphs, Engravings — Researchers and the mayor of the municipality with the large complex of prehistoric engravings — Photo: National Institute of Land of Venezuela

Meanings and Symbolism of the Petroglyphs

The symbols recorded on the rocks are associated with natural and spiritual elements. Among the identified themes are connections with the sun, water cycles, and representations related to the ancestors of the indigenous communities that occupied the territory.

These representations reinforce the cultural presence of the petroglyphs as a form of symbolic communication used by various native groups over thousands of years in the eastern Venezuelan region.

Archaeological Importance of the Region

The involved team states that the discovery strengthens the interpretation that Cedeño functioned as a strategic corridor for human circulation in eastern Venezuela.

According to the researchers, the area likely served as a passage for migratory groups during the Paleo-Indian and Meso-Indian periods, between 6,000 and 1,700 AD, connecting territories and ancient settlement routes.

With information from Revista Galileu.

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Raimundo figueira

#241889

09/03/2026 23:13

Estive em lugar onde vi essas gravuras feitas em pedras , tirei fotos, fica em Santarém no para , são exatamente iguais

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Engravings Up to 8,000 Years Old Found at 647 Meters Altitude: Archaeologists Discover Complex of Petroglyphs Featuring Spirals, Circles, and Human Figures in Quebrada Seca, Venezuela

Prehistoric Engravings Found in Quebrada Seca, Venezuela, Reveal Symbols Related to the Sun, Water, and Indigenous Ancestors and May Be Between 4,000 and 8,000 Years Old

Discovery in Quebrada Seca

Age and Characteristics of the Engravings

Meanings and Symbolism of the Petroglyphs

Archaeological Importance of the Region

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Engravings Up to 8,000 Years Old Found at 647 Meters Altitude: Archaeologists Discover Complex of Petroglyphs Featuring Spirals, Circles, and Human Figures in Quebrada Seca, Venezuela

Prehistoric Engravings Found in Quebrada Seca, Venezuela, Reveal Symbols Related to the Sun, Water, and Indigenous Ancestors and May Be Between 4,000 and 8,000 Years Old

Discovery in Quebrada Seca

Age and Characteristics of the Engravings

Meanings and Symbolism of the Petroglyphs

Archaeological Importance of the Region

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China is building an artificial island in the middle of the sea, covering 20 km², to construct the largest offshore airport in the world, the Dalian Jinzhouwan. This $4.3 billion project is anchored on more than 3,000 pillars embedded in the rock beneath the ocean and is scheduled to open in 2035.

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