Rock Art Research

A systematic exploration of the archaeological site Choquequirao, Cusco, Peru, has in 2004 resulted in the finding of a group of semi-naturalistic and geometric motifs that were created with natural stones in a series of terraces at this important site, a settlement located next to the Apurimac river in the Amazonian – Andean limit of the mountain range of the Andes. This finding opened the possibility of developing a comprehensive and controlled investigation of these archaeological materials, which was developed in 2005. Part of the analyses carried out included technical approaches of these features as well as historical correlations. This paper presents an analysis of the semi-naturalistic figures, stressing the proposition of the artistic nature, and the cultural and chronological association of these motifs.