New research led by a team from Texas State University has established that rock art along the Pecos River dates back approximately 6,000 years. This groundbreaking study highlights complex metaphysical concepts within the imagery that have likely influenced the belief systems of several Mesoamerican cultures.
The research team, which includes Karen Steelman, Ph.D., science director at the Shumla Archaeological Research and Education Center; Carolyn Boyd, Ph.D., Shumla Endowed Research Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Texas State University; and Phil Dering, Ph.D., associated faculty in the Department of Anthropology at Texas State University, published their findings in the journal Science Advances. Their paper, titled “Mapping the chronology of an ancient cosmovision: 4000 years of continuity in Pecos River style mural painting and symbolism,” reveals significant insights into these ancient artworks.
Boyd stated, “We have securely dated one of the most distinctive rock art traditions in the world — the Pecos River style murals of Southwest Texas.” The research utilized 57 radiocarbon dates from 12 sites, indicating that Indigenous communities began creating these sacred, polychromatic murals nearly 6,000 years ago. Importantly, they continued to produce these artworks for more than 4,000 years, maintaining a consistent graphic style and symbol system.
The murals, known as pictographs, were painted by forager societies in southwest Texas and northern Mexico in limestone rock shelters. They feature a mix of humanlike, animal-like, and geometric figures, with some compositions stretching over 100 feet long and 20 feet tall. The dry desert climate has preserved these ancient artworks remarkably well, providing a unique window into the past.
Historically, many archaeologists believed these expansive murals were added over time, gradually evolving as prehistoric peoples contributed new images. The recent radiocarbon dating, however, presents a different narrative. Boyd noted, “Another huge shocker is that the dates within many of the murals clustered so closely as to be statistically indistinguishable, suggesting that they were produced during a single painting event as a visual narrative.” This finding challenges the long-held belief that the murals represented a random collection of images accumulated over centuries.
The research team employed advanced techniques, obtaining 57 direct radiocarbon dates and 25 indirect oxalate dates for pictographs using plasma oxidation and accelerator mass spectrometry. Bayesian modeling estimates that the Pecos River style began between 5,760 and 5,385 years ago and likely ceased between 1,370 and 1,035 years ago.
Through stratigraphic and iconographic analyses, the researchers identified eight murals that adhered to specific compositional rules and an established iconographic vocabulary. This suggests a consistent messaging system persisted even amidst changes in material culture, land use, and climate over the millennia.
The implications of these findings are profound. The researchers concluded that the Pecos River style paintings, situated in a culturally significant landscape, effectively transmitted intricate metaphysical concepts. These concepts later informed the beliefs and symbolic expressions of Mesoamerican agricultural societies.
Boyd elaborated on this, stating, “The compositional nature of the murals was further supported by our analysis of the painting sequence.” Utilizing a digital microscope, the team retraced the artists’ techniques, discovering a rule-bound color application order. “As a result, paint layers of multiple figures are intertwined, forming well-planned, highly sophisticated compositions,” she explained. “These visual manuscripts were created according to a set of rules passed down from one generation to the next for more than 4,000 years.”
An exciting aspect of this discovery is the connection it creates between modern Indigenous communities in the U.S. and Mexico and their historical narratives. Boyd remarked, “Today Indigenous communities can relate the stories communicated through the imagery to their own cosmologies, demonstrating the antiquity and persistence of a pan-New World belief system that is at least 6,000 years old.”
In essence, the canyons of Southwest Texas serve as an extensive archive of painted texts that chronicle 175 generations of sacred stories and Indigenous knowledge. This research not only enriches our understanding of ancient cultures but also highlights the enduring legacy of these communities through their art. Boyd concluded, “As an artist and an archaeologist, I can tell you that this is a breathtaking discovery.”
