The snake that grew on the wall: A combined macroscopic and microscopic archaeometric approach to rock art making through the case of La Candelaria cave (Northwestern, Argentina)

Abstract

The analytical category of motif, used by most rock art studies as a unit of observation and analysis, is commonly associated with single painting acts, assuming that each motif was made by an artist in a particular time. Notwithstanding, deeper insights on the history of production of rock art mainly describe complex processes of painting that comprised different stages of elaboration, as well as changes in the final configuration of the motif over time. This paper takes as a case study a rock art motif from the shelter of La Candelaria (northwestern Argentina), usually interpreted as a snake figure with several heads. In order to explore its history of production, we employed a multi-analytical approach combining detailed macroscopic studies with microscopic analysis of rock paintings by Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray and micro-Raman Spectroscopy. This methodology allows us to elucidate the several stages that create and transform this motif throughout its history. Although traditionally interpreted as a static figure, results obtained show solid proof that its morphology and materiality has changed over time. This discovery sheds light not only to a new and more complex understanding of the rock art from this archaeological site, but also highlights the theoretical and methodological challenge of recognizing each motif as a historical product.