Rock Art Corinto Cave El Salvador

Turtle

Man with stick

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Bradshaw Foundation : The Rock Art of the Corinto Cave -
Gruta del Espiritu Santo - in the Morazan district of El Salvador

DECEMBER 2002

* ASSESSMENT OF THE ROCK ART
* OPTIONS FOR PRESERVATION & PROTECTION

INTRODUCTION

The initial contact from El Salvador to the Bradshaw Foundation came via our website in March 2002 from Dr. Roberto Ticas who wished to bring our attention to the existence and plight of this rock art site.

The Bradshaw Foundation has not covered work in Central America itself, but has for the Baja & Coso Range to the north and Bolivia and Brazil to the south. Therefore the geographical position would be of interest for a greater understanding of both the rock art development and styles in the Americas as well as the migration patterns.

Whilst there have been several archaeological studies, to date little work has been carried out on the rock art of Central America, although a recent study in Guatemala at the Chicimula site estimates the rock art to be between 6000 and 10,000 years old.

Dr Ticas personally provided all funding for the visit by our Project Controller Peter Robinson to El Salvador, the purpose of which was to assess the rock art and discuss options for preservation and protection. Dr Ticas had arranged for the archaeologist Marlon Escamilla of Concultura [National Council of Culture & Art, based at the Museo Nacional de Antropologia Dr David J Guzman in San Salvador] to join us at Corinto in the hope of discussing the initiation of a management plan for the site.

There was an introductory meeting with Concultura, which established our compatible approaches to the preservation and protection of rock art. It was also established that the site is owned by Concultura which would safeguard any long-term management plans implemented. A new road to Corinto will increase the number of visitors significantly [a fact that necessitates preservation & protection] and create income from tourism for the local population.

THE ROCK ART

The Site

The cave – Gruta del Espiritu Santo – is located approximately 2 kms north of the small market town of Corinto, in the north east of the Morazan Department of El Salvador, a 3 1/2 hour drive from the capital. The entire region is volcanic and heavily forested.

The cave’s dimensions are approximately 60m width, 30m height and 20m depth.

The Subject Matter

The majority of the paintings are figures, including anthropomorphic figures. Also depicted are symbols [linear motifs and fertility/vulva motifs], some animals [possibly ostrich and snakes], and hands [used to great effect].

Two Humans

Snakes

Bird

Crab

Red Hand

There is some superimposition of paintings, suggesting that the cave has been used for worship over a considerable time-span. The name of the cave - Gruta del Espiritu Santo - suggests that this site's status was maintained into the Spanish Christian era.

The size of the paintings varies: the figures are usually c. 30 cm in height but some are ca. 100 cm. The symbols vary from ca. 4 cm to 50 cm in height.

Planning of the site is manifested by different galleries within the cave. One section, containing figures of a particular style and colour, runs horizontally at a height of ca. 10 m. The rock topography has been used not only to define certain distinct galleries but also for dramatic effect, as demonstrated by the positioning of the hand motifs. The cave has a natural deepest point, at which exists a hollow, 1.5m from ground level and 75 cm in diameter. In the centre of the circle at eye level, there has been stenciled a hand. The artist has used the black weathered rock face for the colour and a white mixture sprayed on to create the outline - to great effect.

Many of the symbols share a characteristic linear and right-angled appearance, similar to elements of later Mayan design. There is an example of a perfect rectangle. Other symbols are curvilinear, one example perhaps representing fertility with the vulva motif.


Black Hand		Vulva Motif

Some of the figures appear to wear plumed feather head-dresses. Others do not. Two of the figures share a noticeable and characteristic elongated/curved left wrist.

From this first visit it is estimated that there are approximately 200 paintings. There is little clear evidence of petroglyphs or finger-fluting but this may well be altered by closer inspection.

The colours used vary: in predominance, red, black, yellow, white and green, as well as the use of natural rock colour.

The general appearance of the paintings is faded, necessitating close inspection. This does not however detract from their visual impact. Some sections of the cave have been covered by concretions caused by water seepage, which has led to the complete and partial covering of some of the art.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK

The Corinto Cave lies on the northern edge of a considerable volcanic pumice outcrop. The outcrop and its surroundings represent an area of archaeological and anthropological interest, hence Concultura's desire to develop it as a cultural centre.

Two separate holes have been created in the overhanging cliff, which suggests possible use for astrological/alignment/prediction purposes. Cupules are also found.


Cupules: each 20 cm diameter			Mushroom Rock

Natural standing stones, which suggest an extinct lake/river system, provide striking symbols in the landscape, possibly of religious significence.

Further afield, we visited an isolated petroglyph site located near the Honduras border, deep in the Baja Profundo jungle. Accessible only by foot, this unrecorded site contains numerous distinct petroglyphs of figures and symbols, measuring from 5 cm to 25 cm in height. The site occupies one very large outcrop but may be more extensive subject to further investigation.

Also in the Baja Profundo another reported and unrecorded site was located. The site, located at the base of a 100m volcanic cliff, contains two distinct styles and phases, the earlier of which resembles the rock art in the Corinto Cave. The later stage is represented by larger and fresher images with clear Mayan influence. The rock face at the site is deteriorating considerably.

OPTIONS FOR PRESERVATION & PROTECTION

1. The Corinto Cave rock art site is extensive and must have complete documentation. To date there has occurred some tracing of some of the art, but new documentation should perhaps concentrate on digital imaging and enhancement. This should be consolidated by the mapping of the cave and the surrounding area. In my opinion aerial photographs would be extremely useful in aiding the mapping of the site.

2. In order to establish a time scale dating of the rock art is essential. AMS carbon dating should be possible with the charcoal figures. The samples [minimum of 2] should be 'blind'. This result would relate to the recent dating carried out in Guatemala at the Chicimula site, which estimated the age to be between 6000 and 10,000 years old. Archaeological excavation should take place in the cave to cross-reference the dating. However, previous studies [not excavations] suggest that the water seepage may have distorted the underlying stratigraphy, thus invalidating any results.

3. The site must be prevented from further deterioration, primarily by water seepage. There are two suggestions: tree planting above the cave [eucalyptus] and water diversion. However, there are precedents of problems with sudden environmental changes, such as the reduction/removal of moisture from the rock surface, resulting in subsidence/collapse.

4. Consolidation & Preservation. It has been suggested that the rock art would benefit in places from the removal of concretions. Having done so, the paintings may have to be consolidated/enhanced both for their protection and visibility. In my opinion the cost of doing this would be considerable and the results unpredictable.

5. Protection.

* The rock art requires proximity for viewing, thereby endangering it. Some form of barrier/walkway/rail will prevent this. A simple locally constructed barrier such as a railway track of logs supporting a catwalk of planks with a banister on the cliff side would suffice in my opinion.

* Guidance. There is a Guide on site provided by Concultura, but additional guidance/explanation could be given by enhanced imaging with text on boards using the banister.

CONCLUSION

Based on my visit to the Corinto Cave, I consider this rock art site is of importance for academic study [subject to further investigation] and the cultural legacy of El Salvador. There have been several archaeological studies here, but in a piecemeal fashion. The site now needs unification, under the auspices of Concultura.

More information on the work to Preserve and Protect El Salvador's Rock Art will feature on the Bradshaw Foundation website in the coming months.

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