Valcamonica Presentation 2024 / Jose Miguel Perez-Gomez

This presentation unveils the discovery of previously unknown rock art sites featuring pictograms and petroglyphs within the Canaima National Park region in southern Venezuela near the iconic Angel Falls. Among these findings, the first rock art site emerges as an isolated boulder nestled within the slopes of the Upuigma-tepui in a savanna area within the Arauák River Valley, situated in the southern reaches of the Park. Additionally, a cluster of pictograms adorns a boulder close to the Kusari-tepui within a jungle setting, while another set embellishes a cliff wall, in the Kuyarimpa-tepui adjacent to the Canaima village. Notably, also a collection of petroglyphs has been identified at the Ariwe-merú rapids, situated along both the upper Caroní and Carrao Rivers. These rock art sites collectively form part of the "Canaima Complex" and have remained undescribed until now, holding significant cultural value in bridging a historical gap within this remote region and enriching our understanding of its cultural heritage.