Rock Art Research

Toro Muerto in southern Peru is an immense archaeological complex, comprising one of the largest collections of petroglyphs in the world. It is therefore surprising that so little has been published in English about Toro Muerto. The present paper attempts to fill that void by offering a description of the site. It is also attempted to interpret its most prominent iconography. The paper focuses in particular on the most notable elements at Toro Muerto, the zigzag, which may be a key element for providing a chronological context.