In the south of Argentina, in the province of Santa Cruz, there is an amazing Cueva de las Manos, if translated, then "Cave of Hands". The name describes it very accurately, because in this cave there are hundreds of images of palms left by ancient people. It is surprising that people of antiquity, just like us in childhood, loved to trace their hands and make images of them.
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| Cueva de Las Manos Argentina |
Basic moments
In fact, the Cueva de Las Manos is not one, it consists of several caves located in the valley of the river Pinturas. Their total length is 160 kilometers, there is where to get lost. But, of course, not all caves are allowed tourists, only the safest and most interesting ones are open. Tourists can also enter the main cave. It is 10 meters high and 24 meters deep. At the same time, the cave is quite wide, and at its widest point it has 15 meters. Previously, local tribes lived here. Moreover, they lived in this cave for quite a long time, up to the 8th century, although the cave began to be used as early as the 10th century BC.
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| Cueva de Las Manos Argentina |
Drawings and their colors
It is in the main cave of Cueva de las Manos that there are the most images of human palms. Mostly the images are negative, but there are also positive ones that appear a little later. The colors of handprints in the cave can be red, yellow, white, black. The oldest prints date back to the 9th millennium BC, while the most recent ones date back to the 10th century.
The drawings in the cave have been preserved thanks to the use of mineral paints. For their application, bone tubes were used, which were found here, in the cave. With the help of these tubes, it was possible to determine the age of the drawings. Iron oxide paint was poured into the tube to obtain purple color, white clay was used for white color, black color was obtained due to manganese oxide, and yellow - natrojarosite. It is not clear on what basis this or that color was chosen for application, but the handprints in the cave have a different color.
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| Cueva de Las Manos Argentina |
Who owns the palms?
After examining the prints, it was found that they mostly belong to teenage boys. Moreover, the left hand was used to create an imprint. According to scientists, the left hand was chosen because it was more convenient to hold the tube and draw with the right hand, the one who could draw with the left hand left prints of his right hand. Such data suggested that the application of prints of one's palms is part of the initiation ritual. That is, when a teenager was preparing to become a man, he underwent rituals, in which the application of his palm to the cave in which the tribe lived was an obligatory item.
The fact that the cave was not only a sacred place, but also the place of residence of the tribe, is evidenced by household items found in this place, and drawings made on the caves. It was determined that the Tehuelches tribe mainly lived here, it was they who created such an interesting tradition and supported it for thousands of years.
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| Cueva de Las Manos Argentina |
Tourists
Having been in Cueva de las Manos, there is an opportunity not only to see the palms of ancient people, but also their drawings, which depict aspects of the life of the tribe. Basically, these are hunting scenes. According to such drawings, it is not difficult to determine who the inhabitants of ancient Patagonia hunted. Nanda ostriches, guanacos, some types of cats and other animals are depicted here. The paw prints of these animals can also be seen in the caves. There are also geometric figures drawn by the inhabitants of the cave.
For Argentina, the "Cueva de Las Manos" is an important attraction. In 1999, it was even included in the UNESCO list. To get to the main cave, travelers should take the dirt road PR 41 or the paved Ruta 40. The caves are located in Francisco Moreno Park. Already on the spot, it will be possible to arrange an excursion with an experienced guide who will be able to clearly explain the significance of each drawing.
Location of the Cave of Hands:
Patagonia, near the town of Bajo Caracoles, on the banks of the Rio Pinturas.
How to get there:
By car on the dirt road RP 41, which turns off the Ruta 40 route near the town of Bajo Caracoles. Then it goes 46 kilometers to the southern shore of the canyon of the river Pinturas.