Heard on The StreetSeptember 25, 2019
Rock Art Sites in Bolivia are in Danger
Wildfires in Bolivia have spread as far out as the department of Santa Cruz, known for its abundant rock art sites. According to the Sociedad de Arte Rupestre de Bolivia, the country has more than 1,000 of these sites, including caves and rock formations that are still reused by indigenous communities for their ceremonies.
One of the best-known caves in the Santa Cruz region is Mataral, home to several mask-like figures that bear witness to the ancestral traditions of the Andean-Amazonian peoples. The rock art of Bolivia, dating from 12,000 BC, is a testament to the arrival of the first humans to the Americas.
“We believe that the damage is big and wide in terms of our cultural heritage of rock art,” said Danilo Drakic, an archaeologist employed by the government of Santa Cruz. The soot produced by the fire has covered the paintings and the heat has cracked the stones. Authorities are trying to extinguish the fire before they can make a real assessment of the damage.
One of the best-known caves in the Santa Cruz region is Mataral, home to several mask-like figures that bear witness to the ancestral traditions of the Andean-Amazonian peoples. The rock art of Bolivia, dating from 12,000 BC, is a testament to the arrival of the first humans to the Americas.
“We believe that the damage is big and wide in terms of our cultural heritage of rock art,” said Danilo Drakic, an archaeologist employed by the government of Santa Cruz. The soot produced by the fire has covered the paintings and the heat has cracked the stones. Authorities are trying to extinguish the fire before they can make a real assessment of the damage.
