American researchers investigating artistic expression in a cave in Alabama, USA, have discovered an impressive cave painting made by Native Americans (that is, made of stone).
The 10-foot-long drawing, which appears to depict a rattlesnake, was made by locals in the area a thousand years ago, according to the team’s scientific article published Wednesday, April 4 in the journal Antiquity.
The drawn snake can only be identified using photogrammetry, which uses hundreds of images of the same location to create a 3D model.
This is because, as reported by Live Science, the paintings were not only made with mud, which can fade over time, but it was also a cave in which the ceiling is very close to the floor, making it difficult to see the artistic manifestations left behind. there.
Spiritual Meaning
Scientists believe that the snake depicted on the archaeological site is a rattlesnake, commonly known as the “diamond rattlesnake”. This reptile is considered sacred by the indigenous tribes living in Alabama.
In addition, four other paintings of considerable scale were found inside the cave.
The possible creatures the other glyphs represent have yet to be identified, but the study’s authors estimate that they are all considered “souls of the underworld” by the artists who drew them.
Check out more of these prints below:
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