Shonquilpampa: Camelid Pictographs of the Cordillera Blanca, Perú

Abstract

Shonquilpampa is one of the numerous U-shaped narrow glacial valleys of the Cordillera Blanca mountain system in Peru’s north central Andes. The valley floor has enormous granodiorite boulders detached from glaciers. Some of these boulders contain painted camelid pictographs that indicate the importance of the animal as an economic resource for hunters and herding groups. Scenes of camelid hunting and large herds depicted in red appear in the same panel, while apparently, humans play a minor role. However, a band of hunters is shown exclusively in another rock face. The dominant figure, an elongated and tall camelid, is the focal point of the panels. Dynamic hunting scenes are associated with Archaic styles, while static herds are related to post-Archaic developments. The images suggest a gradual transition from wild to domesticated camelids in the mountains of Ancash.