Images on rocks: use of space and landscape construction through the location of rock

Abstract

This paper presents preliminary research results of two archaeological regions located in central-southern Patagonia (Argentina): Sur del Macizo del Deseado (40 sites) and Margen Norte del Río Santa Cruz (4035 metres of bedrock recorded through 4 transects). The main aim of this paper is to characterise the rock art landscape of each region taking into account the motif types, rock art techniques, types of bedrock and types of topography used in each case; assessing both the differential conservation of engraved and painted images derived from different bedrock types and different shelter features offered by the topographic morphology, as well as their underlying production patterns. These research results are compared to those published by other authors in neighbouring regions, showing similarities and differences at large spatial scales, with the aim of suggesting the existence of systemas of visual communication and of hunter-gatherer mobility at an inter-regional scale.