Petroglyphs on the Ledge of Souls

Mexican archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) recently located and recorded a rock panel covered in petroglyphs that may have been carved between 850 and 1350 CE.

The site named “Cantil de las animas” [Ledge of Souls] is near the town of Jesus Maria Cortes in Tepic, Nayarit, Western Mexico.
The carved symbolic representations, which are attributed to the ancient Aztlan culture, were located in a new archaeological zone within the region’s mountainous zone, and they cover a south facing surface of vertical rock about 4 metres long and 2 metres high.

Symbolic images

The symbolic content of the engravings –recorded by archaeologist Mauricio Garduño Ambriz from INAH in Nayarit – seems to divide the petroglyph panel composition into two distinct parts.
Mauricio explained that, “In the eastern half we found designs related to fertility such as rain clouds, snail shell spirals, and vulvae – While in the western half, we found skull profiles who look to the east, towards sunrise.”
The petroglyph iconography is linked to a tradition of pictorial representation regarded as typically used by the Aztlan Culture, which flourished between 850 to 1350 CE along the lower coastal regions of the north of Nayarit and south of Sinaloa.
Archaeologist Mauricio Garduño also pointed out that within the “Cantil de las animas” petroglyphs it is also possible to recognize two distinct pictorial styles of Aztlan’s iconography, one with realistic or figurative representations of curved design, and another that is more schematic distinguished by rigid angular lines.

One of the human skulls in profile (highlighted). Image: Mauricio Garduño / INAH

Potential astronomical indicators

A further important aspect of the site that must be investigated, is to determine if it was also used as an astronomical indicator since the vertical level in which these designs are oriented is on an east-west axis.
“Eventually, it will be necessary to make archaeological and astronomical observations to determine the precise date at which the sun passes through the petroglyphs, and to determine the function of this site in the annual ritual cycle.” commented Mauricio Garduño.
He also believes that the archaeological investigations and discoveries in the Nayarit region should be examined to determine if the the symbolic regionalisation of space has a link to patterns of settlement.

Looking to indigenous communities for clues

We must also recognize the contributions of ethnologists, who, since the 19th century, have been studying the indigenous communities in the region called Gran Nayar.to examine how it fits in with other known representations and ritual traditions.
The petroglyph panel discovered in “Cantil de las animas” is also important because it is located in a relatively unknown area in terms of archaeological investigation. Since initial archaeological rescue works that took place in the 90’s, in the basin of the Santiago and Huaynamota rivers, there has been no systematic exploration of the valleys and hills nearby.
The INAH in Nayarit has now announced that it will implement a program of survey to locate, record, investigate and register the unknown sites of the high plateau valleys, where a rich archaeological heritage remains to be discovered.
Source: INAH

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