New research led by a team from Texas State University has revealed that the Pecos River rock art, dating back approximately 6,000 years, significantly influenced the cosmological beliefs of various Mesoamerican cultures. This groundbreaking study, titled “Mapping the chronology of an ancient cosmovision: 4000 years of continuity in Pecos River style mural painting and symbolism,” is published in the journal Science Advances.
The team, which includes Karen Steelman, Ph.D., science director at Shumla Archaeological Research and Education Center; Carolyn Boyd, Ph.D., Shumla Endowed Research Professor in Anthropology at TXST; and Phil Dering, Ph.D., associated faculty in the Department of Anthropology at TXST, conducted extensive research involving 57 radiocarbon dates from 12 different sites. Boyd emphasized the significance of this discovery: “We have securely dated one of the most distinctive rock art traditions in the world,” she stated.
The research indicates that Indigenous communities began creating these visually stunning, polychromatic murals almost 6,000 years ago. The murals, known as pictographs, are located in limestone rock shelters across southwest Texas and northern Mexico. They feature human-like, animal-like, and geometric figures arranged in meticulous compositions, with some spanning more than 100 feet long and 20 feet tall. The dry desert climate has remarkably preserved these ancient artworks.
Traditionally, many archaeologists believed that these expansive murals were developed over centuries, continuously added to by prehistoric peoples. However, the results from the recent radiocarbon dating challenge this assumption. Boyd noted, “Another huge shocker is that the dates within many of the murals clustered so closely as to be statistically indistinguishable. This suggests that they were produced during a single painting event as a visual narrative.”
The research team employed advanced techniques, including plasma oxidation and accelerator mass spectrometry, to obtain 57 direct radiocarbon dates and 25 indirect oxalate dates. Bayesian modeling estimates that the Pecos River style began between 5,760 and 5,385 years ago and likely ended between 1,370 and 1,035 years ago. The findings revealed that eight of the murals were created according to a consistent iconographic vocabulary and set of rules, demonstrating a unified messaging system that persisted despite shifts in material culture, land use, and climate over millennia.
The researchers concluded that the Pecos River style paintings served as a cultural keystone, embedding complex metaphysical concepts that later shaped the beliefs and symbolic expressions of Mesoamerican agricultural societies. Boyd elaborated on their compositional analysis, stating, “Using a digital microscope to retrace the steps followed by the original artists, we discovered that the painters adhered to a rule-bound color application order.” This meticulous approach resulted in intricate compositions that reflect a sophisticated understanding of art passed down through generations.
One of the most exciting aspects of this research is its relevance to contemporary Indigenous communities in the U.S. and Mexico. Boyd highlighted that these groups can relate the stories depicted in the murals to their own cosmologies, illustrating a belief system that has endured for at least 6,000 years. “Think about it, the canyons of Southwest Texas house a vast and ancient library of painted texts documenting 175 generations of sacred stories and Indigenous knowledge,” she remarked.
This research not only enhances our understanding of the Pecos River rock art but also underscores the deep cultural connections that persist across time and geography, showcasing the richness of Indigenous heritage in North America. The findings open new avenues for exploring how ancient artistic traditions continue to resonate within contemporary cultural contexts.
