Península Valdés - (World Heritage Site in Argentina)

Península Valdés

Short Report

Península Shopping Center is Valdés in Patagonia is a site of global significance for the conservation of marine mammals. It is an important breeding population of the endangered southern right whales as well as important breeding population of southern elephant seals and southern sea lions. The code name orcas base image in this area have developed a unique hunting strategy to adapt to local coastal area.

Wide Report

In Valdés Península Shopping Center is in the Argentine province of Chubut is a 4000 km2 promontory, excellent 100 km east in the South of the Atlantic Ocean. The 400 km coastline consists of a series of divisions, rocky cliffs, shallow bays and lagoons with extensive mudflats, sand and pebble beaches, coastal sand dunes and small islands. The banks and the waters around the Peninsula is a special place for marine mammals. A population of looking makes use of the protected waters for mating and calving. The southern elephant seal refuge has its most northern colony here. They reached peaks of more than 1,000 people and is the only colony in the world reported to be on the increase. The southern sea lion also varieties here in large numbers.

The local population of code name orcas base image has used the beaches of Valdésto develop a unique and spectacular approach for hunting. The code name orcas base image race in the shallow surf to snatch sea lions or young elephant seals, often throws is located on the beach in the process.

The site has a great variety of birds. The peninsula the intertidal mudflats and lagoons are important staging sites for migratory shorebirds The Magellanic penguin is the largest number of nearly 40,000 active nests divided into five different colonies. Terrestrial mammals are present in abundance. In very large herds guanaco to see the peninsula and the mara, an Argentine endemic, threatened in other parts of the country, is to be found here.

Source:whc/unesco

Los Glaciares National Park - (World Heritage Site in Argentina)

Los Glaciares National Park

Sort Report

The Los Glaciares National Park is an area of outstanding natural beauty, with rugged, towering mountains and many glacial lakes, including Lake Argentino, which is 160 km long. At its farthest end, three glaciers to dump their effluvia in the milky color gray glacial water, start huge igloo icebergs in the lake with resounding splashes.

Wide Report

Los Glaciers National Park is an area of outstanding natural beauty, with rugged, towering mountains and many glacial lakes, including the large Lago Argentino. This vast alps covers the Patagonian ice field covers approximately half of the park. Extension of more than 14,000 km2, the ice area is the largest ice jacket outside Antarctica. He has a total of 47 glaciers and another 200 smaller glaciers are independent of the main ice field.

It is the best place in South America to see glaciers in action. Glacial activity is concentrated around two large lakes, Argentino and Viedma. The Argentino Lake is particularly spectacular with three glaciers dumping their effluvia in melkweg icy waters. Giant blue icebergs are launched into the lake with a resounding splash. Los Glaciers contains some of the few glaciers in the world that has improved. The effects of retreating and advancing glaciers are clearly visible. The islamicists Mereno glacier in the park often advances so far as its snout interrupts the normal stream escape Lake Rico, forms a natural dam which flooded vast areas. In the glacier retreats in the heat of the summer, a wall of water rides in the valley.

The park consists of two different vegetation types: subantarctic Patagonian forest and Patagonian steppe. The most impressive wildlife in the park are the birds. The many lakes offer an ideal habitat for black neck swans and a variety of ducks and geese and Chilean flamingos wade along the coast. Overhead glides the Andean condor, the largest bird in the world in terms of wing and the high grasslands are dotted with Darwin's rhea, South America's version of the ostrich.

Mammals have a separate population of southern Andes mountain viscacha huemul and probably live in some sectors of the park, but its presence still to be confirmed. Other species of interest are the guanaco, Argentine gray fox and Austral hog-nosed skunk. The site has introduced species, in particular, the European hare, whose ability hunger is of great influence on the natural eco-system, and two species of trout, who lives in the rushing streams of the park.

Mammals have a separate population of southern Andes mountain viscacha huemul and probably live in some sectors of the park, but its presence still to be confirmed. Other species of interest are the guanaco, Argentine gray fox and Austral hog-nosed skunk. Prehistoric inhabitants of the area were hunter-gatherers who on guanaco for their living. These were followed by the Tehuelchian culture. The park includes at least 14 sites of archaeological interest related to these cultures. Tehuelches Indians were nearly wiped out during the process of the European colonization

Source:whc/unesco

Ischigualasto / Talampaya Natural Parks - (World Heritage Site in Argentina)

Ischigualasto / Talampaya Natural Parks 

Short Report

These two adjacent parks, which extends over 275,300 ha in the desert area on the western boundary of the Sierra Pampeanas in central Argentina, contains the most complete continental fossil record known to survive the Period (245-208 million years ago). Six geological formations in the parks contain fossils of a wide range of ancestors of mammals, dinosaurs and plants reveal the evolution of vertebrate animals and the nature of palaeo-environments in the period Survive.

Wide Report

Talampaya National Park and the contiguous selection of Ischigualasto Provincial Park straddle the border between the provinces of San Juan and La Rioja in the north west of Argentina. The Ischigualasto-Talampaya region is a desert region is the western boundary of the Sierras Pampeanas in central Argentina.

The preferred site is almost the entire sedimentary basin analysis known as the Ischigualasto-Villa Union Survive basin. It was formed by layers of continental deposits by the rivers, lakes and marshes during the whole period triassic (245-208 million years ago). The sediments contain fossils of a wide variety of plants and animals, including the ancestors of mammals and dinosaurs. They are the most complete continental fossil record known from the triassic, reveal the evolution of vertebrate animals, as well as the environments in which they lived during this period.

Approximately 56 genera of fossil vertebrates are included in the environment, including fish, amphibians and a large variety of reptiles including the direct ancestors of mammals. Most of the fossils are found in the upper levels of the geological formations and consists almost entirely of archosaurs, including large herbivorous and carnivorous species, primitive crocodiles and primitive mammals about the size of a rat.

The river deposits are equipped with large areas of flood plains which indicate quickly flooding, probably after monsoon type storms. More and swamp deposits contain large amount of fossil plants, some of them that coal seams and others retain mummification actual type, an extremely rare form of conservation known of very little villages. Six geological formations of the washbasin Survive the oldest the Talampaya and Tarjados formations, red sandstone that forms the impressive cliffs of the Talampaya National Park. The other formations are composed of more beds, marshes, rivers, and canals floodplain deposits. These formations contain the abundant vertebrate and flora fossils.

Today Ischigualasto-Talampaya desert scarce vegetation characterized by Xeric sand calcareous grasslands shrubs and cacti. The fauna is typical of the arid areas of western Argentina, with under other various types of considered as of special value because they are endemic, national or threatened culturally valuable, including Andean condor, chestnut canastero, sandy gallito, puma, guanaco, mara and viscacha.

Previous to the Spanish conquest, the area was inhabited by various groups aboriginal people, usually semi-nomadic hunters and collectors. The cultural value of Ischigualasto-Talampaya is of great importance, although a detailed study of rock art, artifacts and archaeological sites has only recently begun. The site is situated on the southern area of late Inca influence. In Talampaya, many sites are dug up and are easily accessible. In Ischigualasto, six sites of rock art discovered. In addition, cave and rock overhang village sites, as well as mass graves, campsites and tool-areas are found. It is possible to share a lot of the rock art in terms of geometric figures, human figures and combined panorama.

Source:whc/unesco

Iguazu National Park - (World Heritage Site in Argentina)

Iguazu National Park

Short Report

The semicircular waterfall in the heart of this site is approximately 80 m high and 2,700 m in diameter and is located on a basaltic line on the border between Argentina and Brazil. From many waterfalls which huge jets, it is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world. The area surrounding subtropical rain forest has more than 2,000 species of vascular plants and is the home of the typical nature of the region: tapirs, giant anteaters, howler monkeys announce, ocelots and' jaguars looking over you on draped and caymans.

Wide Report

The site comprises the national park and national reserves in Misiones province are located, north-eastern Argentina. The Iguazú River forms the northern border of the reserves and park, and also the southern border of do Iguaçu National Park World Heritage site in Brazil. The Iguazú waterfalls span the border between Argentina and Brazil. 80 M high and 3 km wide, the waterfalls are composed of many waterfalls which lead to huge water jets and one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world.

The vegetation is usually subtropical wet forest rich lianas and epithytes, although the forests less biodiversity in comparison with others in Brazil and parts of Paraguay. Nonethless, more than 2,000 species of vascular plants have been identified. Vegitation around is particularly lush due to the constant mist.

The fauna is typical of the region and tapir view wit hits, coati, tamandua, raccon. The site is particularly rich in birds imports thereof with almost half of the Argentine birds found. Endangered mammals such as the jaguar, ocelot and tiger-cat number under the predator, and the giant anteater and Brazilian otter are also found. Primates include the black-capped Capuchin monks and black howler monkey. There are also small populations of endangered broad-nosed Caiman crocodiles and the threat of Brazilian merganser (sawbill duck).

The first inhabitants of the region were the Caingangues Indians. This strain was struck by the Tupi-Guaranies who coined the name Iguazú (Big Water).  The first European to the waterfalls was the Spaniard Don Alvar Nuñes Cabeza the on this trip was in 1541 and 10 years later Spanish and Portuguese colonisation started. There are at least two sites of archaeological interest within the park.

Source:whc/unesco

Quebrada de Humahuaca - (World Heritage Site in Argentina)

Quebrada de Humahuaca

Short Report

Quebrada de Humahuaca follows the line of a major cultural route, the Camino Inca, along the spectacular valley of the Rio Grande, from its source in the cold high desert plateau of the Andes lands the confluence with the Rio Leone approximately 150 km to the south. The valley gives important indications for its use as an important trade route from the last 10,000 years. It features visible traces of prehistoric hunter-gatherers communities of the Inca empire (15th to 16th century) and the fight for independence in the 19th and 20th century.

Wide Report

Quebrada de Humahuaca follows the line of a major cultural route, the Camino Inca, along the spectacular valley of the Rio Grande, from its source in the cold High Andes desert plateau at the confluence with the Rio Leone approximately 150 km to the south. The valley gives important indications for its use as an important trade route from the last 10,000 years. Spread along the valley are many remains of successive settlements whose inhabitants created and used this linear routes. They feature prehistoric hunters and gatherers and early farming communities (9000 BC AD 400), Large structured agricultural society (AD 400-900), thriving pre-Hispanic towns and villages (900-1430/ 80), The Incan empire (1430/80 -1535), Spanish towns, villages and churches (153/93 -1810), and Republican fight for independence (1810- 20th century). A striking feature is the extensive remains of stone-walled terrace fields of guidance Coctaca, thought to originate from around 1,500 years ago and is still in use; these are linked to a series of fortified towns known as pucaras . The system and the pucaras together a dramatic impact on the landscape and an unmatched in South America . The valley also provides a variety of churches and chapels and a lively common architectural tradition.

The Quebrada de Humahuaca is a long narrow valley carved out by the Rio Grande. He is flanked by high mountain ranges and extends from the cold high desert plateau of the High Andes lands, to the wide warm damp Jujuy valley to the southeast. The valley has a crucial natural route for the transfer of people and ideas from the time of the hunters and collectors on the day of today. Through its subvalleys linked the many traces of the forest areas with the major thoroughfare, to gather resources of the highlands to the plain. The main aspects of the site, the network of walking trails through the valley. These include remains of old tracks, revetted road, rail, and finally asphalt paved roads.

The 26 rock-art sites in the valley so far known evidence of the use of caves and shelters of the time of the hunter-gatherers to the arrival of the Spaniards. In some caves, early petroglyphs and pictographs of geometric and zoomorphic forms, people and animals, found next to representations of the Spanish horse that warriors on foot. As a whole, the valley reflects the way its strategic position has meant settlement and agriculture and trade. The pre-Hispanic and pre-The Incan settlements a complex territorial organizational strategy designed to settlements convenient location along the valley and the development of intensive agriculture through advanced irrigation technologies.

Historical Data

The history of the valley begins with proof of hunters-gatherers societies live in caves and shelters cave approx. 10,000 BCE. There probably took part in seasonal migrations. Deteriorating climate between the 6th and 3rd millennium BCE, which was drought, seems to have deterred further settlement to an increase of rainfall after 2500 v. BC., encouraged new groups of people back colonize some of the older caves.

These new settlers combined hunting with agriculture and this limited mobility. After about 100 AD villages are formed, and related to this, the movement between the member states and with different ecological zones. Caravans of llamas began for the transport of goods such as obsidian, turquoise, ceramics and the hallucinogenic drug cebil from the eastern forests. After about 700 AD an increase of the population, coupled with the improved agricultural techniques, led to the development of major settlements near the river. Surpluses were traded with neighboring areas and perhaps further away. These settlements certainly back the growing power of the Tiwanaku State around Lake Titicaca and there is evidence for the trade between the two.

After 1000 AD, perhaps motivated by the collapse of the Tiwanaku state, there was a period of social change that was the last flowering of the local Quebrada de culture. The settlements were abandoned and towns built on higher rocky foothills. Known as pucaras (fortresses), they were characterised by densely grouped housing for the growing population. The individual pucaras can are the seats of the heads of various ethnic groups in the valley. An increase of the population, and a huge increase in the trade, has led to the cultivation of extensive areas along the valley and on the lower slopes of the mountains. Caravan movement grew in size and also to what extent the valley still linked to the forests, the Jujuy valley, in the south of Bolivia and the adjacent parts of Chile.

Between 1430 and 1480, the enlargement of The Incan Empire reduced further local development. Almost certainly The Incan conquerors came along the trade routes tried to check it. The Incans were interested in exploiting minerals as well as in the creation of large agricultural enterprises to export the products of both on their core areas. New settlements were established for the promotion of this trade and the transport is enhanced by the construction of a complex system of newly designed roads connected with the formidable Quebrada de transport system that crossed The Incan Empire from Ecuador to Chile and Argentina - an area of approximately 5,000 miles.

In the 16th century the valley gradually falling prey to the new conquerors, the Spaniards. Just as with the Inca'S, the Spanish wanted the strategic trade routes and harvest the resources of the valley. Trade increased along the existing road network with silver, cattle and cotton are performed and European imported goods. A huge demographic changes took place as many of the inhabitants are victims of new diseases and migrants from Spain began to settle in the valley in new settlements. More trade and in the 18th century a line of staging points was set up along the main route through the valley and beyond, as part of the link between Buenos Aires and the Peruvian area.

For a period of 14 years from 1810, Quebrada de played a crucial role in the transfer of troops and armaments and to High Peru in the struggle for independence which was achieved in 1816, and then in the 'civil wars' and conflicts on the border between the new member states. In quiet times in the 19th century, especially after the opening of the salt-peter mines in the trans-Andean desert. The nature of this trade change substantially with the advent of the railways along the valley in 1900.

Finally, in the 20th century, the main valley route was a part of the Pan-American north-south road and therefore the valley still play an important role in the coordination of the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

Source:whc/unesco

Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis: San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria Mayor (Argentina), Ruins of Sao Miguel das Missoes (Brazil)

Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis: San Ignacio Mini, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria Mayor (Argentina), Ruins of Sao Miguel das Missoes (Brazil)

Short Report

The ruins of Sao Miguel das Missões in Brazil, and that of San Ignacio Miní, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria la Mayor in Argentina, the core of a tropical forest. They are the impressive remains of five Jesuit Missions, build in the country of the Guaranis in the 17th and 18th century. Each is characterized by a specific layout and another state of conservation.

Wide Report

The remains of the Jesuit Missions are excellent examples of a type of building and of an architectural ensemble that illustrate an important period in the history of Argentina and Brazil. The ruins of Sao Miguel das Missões in Brazil and San Ignacio Miní, Santa Ana, Nuestra Señora de Loreto and Santa Maria la Mayor in Argentina is located in the middle of a tropical forest. They are impressive remains of five Jesuit Missions, build in the country of the Guaranis in the 17th and 18th century.

All these Guarani reducciones (settlements) are on the same model: the church, the residence of the fathers, and the regularly spaced houses of the Indians are around a large square. However, each of the reducciones is characterized by a specific layout and a different state of conservation. San Ignacio Miní, founded in 1611, was twice, establishment in its current location in 1696. It contains important monumental remains: churches, residence of the fathers, schools. The ruins are accessible and in a relatively good state of preservation. It is the most prominent example of a reduccion kept in Argentine territory.

Santa Ana, founded in 1633 in the Sierra del Tape was removed in 1638 to the bank of the Parana river and yet again to its current location, 45 km of Posadas. The ruins of the church, which are accessible through a monumental staircase, arising out of a forest. They are opposed to plunder after the expulsion of the Jesuits in 1767. The Nuestra Señora de Loreto, founded in 1610, moved in 1631 to its current location 53 km of Posadas. The job included a print. The church and the founding fathers' house was built by Brother Bressanelli, as in San Ignacio Miní. The ruins of the Indian village of partially are cleared of vegetation. Santa Maria la Mayor, founded in 1626, has been moved to the current location in 1633. Not far from the ruins of the church, important remains of the place of residence of the fathers are still standing.

Sao Miguel, founded in 1632 on the site of Itaiaceco, was first transferred to Concepción, and then in 1687 to its current location on the banks of the Piratini. Not a single building of the village will be maintained; that everything visible are the foundations of the fathers' residence, the school and the walls of the cemetery, along with a few remnants of Indian habitations. On a web site that is regularly invaded by vegetation are the ruins of the church attributed to Father Gian Battista Primoli, a Jesuit architect of Milanese roots, known for its work in Buenos Aires, Cordoba and Concepción. This baroque church, completed in 1750, was destroyed by fire 10 years. It was restored in a somewhat during the year prior to the final expulsion of the Jesuits in 1768.

Source:whc/unesco

Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba - (World Heritage Site in Argentina)

Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba

Short Report

The Jesuit Block in Cordoba, in the heart of the former Jesuit Province of Paraguay and contains the most important buildings of the Jesuit system: the university, the church and residence of the Society of Jesus, and the college. Together with the five estancias, or agriculture estates, they contain religious and non-religious buildings, which illustrate the unique religious, social and economic experiment carried out in the world for a period of more than 150 years in the 17th and 18th century.

Wide Report

The Jesuit buildings and ensembles of Cordoba and estancias are exceptional examples of the mix of European and indigenous values and cultures during a seminal period in South America. The Jesuits were late in the Spanish American colonies, preceded by other jobs, such as the Franciscans and Dominicans. However, the southern part of the continent was still being examined or in the late 16th century, and offers opportunities for the Jesuits. The Spanish monk Diego Torres is sent by the order for the organization of the new Province of Paraguay in 1607 (ambulatory tasks already in the region since 1588). Missions were sent from Cordoba, the center of the new province, colleges and preach the Jesuit message. Cordoba itself, drawn up by Jerónimo Luis Cabrera in 1573, was the standard Spanish colonial checkrboard pattern. Common with the other orders, the Jesuits were assigned one of the 70 blocks of the original position.

The Jesuit Block in Cordoba contains the most important buildings of the Jesuit system: the university, the church and residence of the Society of Jesus, and the college. The National University of Cordoba (formerly called the Colegio of the society of Jesus) is organised around a central open space (originally a botanical garden), and built in stone and brick, with spacious colonnades around the courtyard. The Society of Jesus Church is a huge domed structure with two squat towers to the west, mainly in stone, stone in the cadres. It is a single-nave building, the interior is richly decorated, the retablo of the main altar and the pulpit are excellent examples of baroque. As with the university, the buildings of the Colegio Nacional de Nuestra Señora de Montserrat be disposed around two open spaces. It is built in the same style as the other structures in the Jesuit Block.

The five estancias illustrate the unique religious, social and economic experiment carried out in the world for a period of over 150 years in the 17th and 18th century. The Alta Gracia estancia was originally a church, the priests' residence, depart for the slaves and workers (scrapped), livestock pens, vegetable gardens (missing), a textile factory, a reservoir and other mills. The estancia is located in the heart of the city, with two spacious terraces. The two buildings of the complex and the church forms three sides of a square terrace, the fourth is closed by a high wall pierced by the main entrance.

The Santa Catalina estancia is a rural setting in the beautiful landscape of the Cordoba sierras, consisting of a church, the priests' residence, employees depart, the newcomers' house (now ruin), a mill and a reservoir. The map, the largest of all the estancias , is in the form of three terraces, the central of the main building. The church, a Latin cross in plan, has an impressive baroque facade.

The components of the rural Jesús María estancia are identical with those of Santa Catalina. Cloisters you will find two sides of the central patio, the others is formed by a storage building and a high stone wall. The furthest of Cordoba is the rural estancia of Candelaria. In contrast to the others, it is located in a secluded part of the region. It is smaller than the other, consisting of a chapel, priests' residence, workers quarters (now demolished) and cattle pens. By contrast, the estancia Caroya is an impressive ensemble, in a lush green landscape. The mill and reservoir are now lost, but the patio, surrounded by monasteries and quarters for the boarders of the Colegio Nacional de Nuestra Señora de Montserrat, is striking in the proportions and dimensions.

Historical Data

The Society of Jesus was founded in 1540 by St Ignatius Loyola, as part of the choose between counter-reformation . The missions by this hierarchical organization in non-Christian countries had as its principal activities spiritual guidance by means of retreats and education. It was governed by its own laws.

The Jesuits were late in the Spanish American colonies, preceded by other jobs, such as the Franciscans and Dominicans. However, the southern part of the continent was further examined at the end of the 16th century, with opportunities for the Jesuits. The Spanish monk Diego Torres is sent by the order for the organization of the new Province of Paraguay in 1607. Ambulatory tasks already in the region since 1588. Missions were sent from Cordoba, the center of the new Province, colleges and preach the Jesuit message.

The town of Cordoba was determined by Jerónimo Luis Cabrera in 1573 and on the standard Spanish colonial checkerboard pattern. Common with the other orders, the Jesuits were assigned one of the seventy blocks of the original position, but they have no take possession of it until 1599.

One of the first acts of the Jesuits was to build on this block in 1610 called the Colégio (which the Royal and pontifical University in the next decade), Where education was in accordance with the educational plan Ratio atque Instituto Studiorum; it affectio societatis Jesu (Method and System of Studies of the society of Jesus), set up in 1599 and applied in the world of the order. Other a monastic buildings followed, including the university and the church and residence of the order. This underwent a number of transformations, and reconstructions, both before and after the expulsion of the order in 1767.

The estancias, that is, for agriculture, textiles production and mules breeding next to their mental functions, are very successful economically. They came into the possession of the society in different ways, including by purchase and bequests. Alta Gracia was a cattle ranch in the hands of Alonso Nieto the Herrera that society, he gave when he died, While La Candelaria was created on land donated by Francisco de Vera y Mujica in 1678. Caroya was purchased in 1616, Jesús María in 1618, and Santa Catalina in 1616. All were sold to private individuals in the property of the company by the Administrative Body Temporalities was auctioned after the expulsion.

Source:whc/unesco

Cueva de las Manos, Río Pinturas - (World Heritage Site in Argentina)

Cueva de las Manos, Río Pinturas

Short Report

The Cueva de las Manos, Rio Pinturas, contains an exceptional collection cave art, carried out between 13,000 and 9,500 years ago. The owes its name (Cave of the hands) of the mimeographed memorandum outlines of man in the cave, but there are also many pictures of animals, such as guanacos (Lama guanicoe ), still to be found in the region, as well as hunting. The people who are responsible for the paintings are the ancestors of the historic hunter-gatherers communities of Patagonia found by European settlers in the 19th century.

Wide Report

The Cueva de las Manos (Caves of the hands) contains an exceptional collection cave art, carried out between 13,000 and 9,500 years ago, that bears witness to the culture of the earliest societies in South America. It derives its name from the mimeographed memorandum outlines of man in the cave, but there are also many pictures of animals, such as guanacos, still widely used in the region, as well as hunting. The people who are responsible for the paintings are the ancestors of the historic hunter-gatherers communities of Patagonia found by European settlers in the 19th century. The artistic series, which consists of three large stylistic groups, began in the 10TH millennium BP (Before Present). The sequence is a long one: archaeological research has shown that the site is for the last inhabited around AD 700 by the possible ancestors of the first Tehuelche Airport is inhabitants of Patagonia.  The Cueva is considered by the international scientific community is one of the most important sights of the earliest hunter-gatherers groups in South America. The paintings of the rock shelters and caves are located in a beautiful landscape, with the river running through a deep canyon.  The herded paints animals and human figures interacting in a dynamic and naturalistic way. Different hunting strategies are shown, with animals is surrounded in ambushes, or attacked by hunters with their weapons disposal, round stone known as bolas. Some scenes give individual hunters and other groups of ten or more men.

The entrance to the Cueva is screened by a rock on which many hand stencils. Within the rock shelter themselves there are five concentrations of rock art, more recent data and motifs often on top of the previous periods. The paintings were performed with natural mineral pigments - iron oxides (red and purple), kaolin (white), natrojarosite (yellow), manganese oxide (black) - ground and mixed with a type of binder.

Travellers are a visit to the Cueva de los Manos since the middle of the 19th century and the impressions of the paintings. They were first mentioned in the scientific literature in the 20th century, but it was only in 1960 that became the subject of serious study. The work of Carlos J. a. Gradin and his staff the importance of the Cueva de los Manos if a prehistoric rock-art site of international scientific interest. The favorable conditions (very low humidity, no water ingress, stable rock strata) on the rock shelter have ensured that the conservation status of all but the most exposed paintings is excellent.

Historical Data

The progress of the human penetration in South America is the subject of intensive scientific discussions at the moment. Some early radiocarbon dating from the north-eastern region of Brazil have denied the up to now generally accepted view that this began around 12,000 BP. This, however, has no effect on the date of the occupancy of the Rio Pinturas rock shelter, which was set up by digging and radiocarbon analysis c 9300 BP. The first group of people (whose art classified as stylistic Group (A) were long-distance hunters whose main prey was the guanaco.

7000 BP a second cultural level can be identified, characterized by stylistic Group B. herded are located not more, and the rock art is dominated by the stencils. There are also some examples of stencils of the feet of the American ostrich (ñandú). This culture has lasted until c 3300 BP, when the art was more schematic and very stylised and zoomorphic percentile anthropomorphic dummy figures.

The last cultural stage Rio Pinturas began around 1300 BP. Its art (stylistic Group (C), carried out in bright red pigments, focused on abstract geometric figures and very schematic images of people and animals. 

Is assumed that the work of the historic Tehuelche Airport is hunter-gatherers that are located in the vast majority of Patagonia as the first Spanish traders and settlers arrived. It was the creation of large cattle ranches (estancias) that their way of life.

The Area Arqueológica y Natural Río Pinturas-Santa Cruz is located in the pampas part of the Pinturas River region. Low plateaus at a height of 800-1000m by deep gorges surrounded by steep cliffs, of which the most important was that of the Pinturas itself. There are many natural rock shelters in the rocks. The soil is rocky and poor, but the region supports a varied natural fauna, where the guanaco (Lama guanicoe) prominent.

The climate of the canyons is moderate, because they are protected from the wind that sweep the pampas. The mild winter temperatures and the humidity is high in comparison with the pampas make this area suitable for seasonal grazing of the cattle from the estancias. Palaeoclimatic studies based on the sediments of the Cueva de los Manos suggest that the current circumstances was at 11,000 BP. The effect of the Cueva de los Manos is screened by a rock on which many hand stencils. Within the rock shelter themselves there are five concentrations of rock art. More recent data and motives are often on top of the previous periods.

The paintings were performed with natural mineral pigments which were ground and mixed with any kind of binder, the nature of which is unknown. Traces of the pigments were found in the archaeological excavations carried out in the entrance of the cave, thus a contextual link between the paintings and the stratified cultural material. X-Ray diffraction analysis has shown that the most common minerals were used iron oxides (hematite and maghemite) for red and purple, kaolin for white, natrojarosite for yellow and black manganese oxide; plaster was sometimes added to the mixture.

Source:whc/unesco