Ice Age Beasts Discovered Painted on 8-Mile Long Rock ‘Canvas’
Researchers have unearthed a remarkable 8-mile-long rock canvas adorned with paintings of long-extinct ice age creatures. The artwork, estimated to be around 12,600 years old, is a stunning depiction of animals that roamed the Earth during the last ice age era. This masterpiece, created with red ochre pigment, is located in Serranía La Lindosa on the northern edge of the Colombian Amazon. It showcases a diverse array of creatures, including mastodons, giant sloths, deer, tapirs, alligators, and other fascinating species that no longer exist. The painting also includes intricate details such as handprints, geometric designs, hunting scenes, and interactions between early humans and the flora and fauna of the region. According to researchers, these artworks were likely created over hundreds, if not thousands, of years, offering a captivating glimpse into the lives of the earliest inhabitants of western Amazonia.

The discovery of these ancient artworks has excited scientists and historians alike, offering valuable insights into the prehistoric past. Excavations at the site have yielded evidence of early human habitation in the Colombian Amazon, shedding light on their daily lives, diets, and tools. The paintings provide a unique window into a bygone era, showcasing realistic depictions of prehistoric animals and scenes of human interaction with the environment.
Exciting News For Scientists and Historians
Further analysis of bone and plant fossils found in the area has revealed details about the early humans’ diet, which included a variety of fruits, fish, reptiles, and mammals. These findings enhance our understanding of human expansion and the impact of early civilizations on the environment. Studying these ancient communities and their relationship with the natural world adds valuable knowledge to our understanding of the Amazon Rainforest, a crucial ecosystem with immense biological diversity.

Peace Made it Possible
The 2016 peace treaty between the FARC and the Colombian Government paved the way for excavations at the site in 2017 and 2018. The discovery of these ice age beasts and other archaeological finds from the project will be featured on the Discovery Channel’s Jungle Mystery: Lost Kingdoms of the Amazon.
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Sources
- https://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/research/title_829032_en.html
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1040618220301907