New research led by a team from Texas State University has established that the rock art in the Pecos River region dates back approximately 6,000 years. This groundbreaking study reveals intricate metaphysical themes embedded in the artwork, which have significantly influenced the belief systems of various Mesoamerican cultures.
The research team includes Karen Steelman, Ph.D., science director at the Shumla Archaeological Research and Education Center; Carolyn Boyd, Ph.D., Shumla Endowed Research Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Texas State University; and Phil Dering, Ph.D., associated faculty in the Department of Anthropology at the same institution. Their findings, detailed in the journal Science Advances, highlight the continuity of artistic expression in the Pecos River style, which persisted for over 4,000 years.
“We have securely dated one of the most distinctive rock art traditions in the world — the Pecos River style murals of Southwest Texas,” Boyd stated. “With 57 radiocarbon dates from 12 sites, we’ve learned that Indigenous communities began to paint these sacred, polychromatic murals almost 6,000 years ago. This practice continued for millennia, showcasing a remarkable consistency in style and symbolism.”
Forager societies in regions of southwest Texas and northern Mexico utilized limestone rock shelters to create vibrant murals, known as pictographs. These artworks feature human-like, animal-like, and geometric figures, meticulously arranged in compositions that can reach lengths of over 100 feet and heights of 20 feet. The dry desert climate has remarkably preserved these ancient creations.
Contrary to previous assumptions, the new radiocarbon dating indicates that many of the murals were likely produced during singular painting events rather than evolving over centuries. “Another significant finding is that the dates within many murals are statistically indistinguishable, suggesting they were created simultaneously as a cohesive visual narrative,” Boyd explained. This challenges the prevailing view that these expansive murals were simply a random collection of images accumulated over time.
The research team employed advanced techniques, including plasma oxidation and accelerator mass spectrometry, to obtain 57 direct radiocarbon dates and 25 indirect oxalate dates from the pictographs across the studied sites. Bayesian modeling estimates that the Pecos River style emerged between 5,760 and 5,385 years ago and likely concluded between 1,370 and 1,035 years ago.
Iconographic and stratigraphic analyses revealed that eight of the murals adhered to strict compositional rules and a defined iconographic vocabulary. This consistency indicates that the messages conveyed through this art form remained coherent despite changes in material culture, land use, and climate over time. The researchers concluded that the Pecos River style paintings acted as a cultural keystone, transmitting sophisticated metaphysical ideas that later shaped the beliefs and symbolic practices of Mesoamerican agricultural societies.
Boyd elaborated on the artistic methods used by the ancient creators, stating, “Our analysis of the painting sequence, facilitated by a digital microscope, unveiled a rule-bound order of color application. The intertwined layers of paint among multiple figures resulted in well-planned, highly sophisticated compositions.” These visual manuscripts reflect a tradition of knowledge and creativity passed down through generations for over 4,000 years.
Perhaps the most profound implication of this research is its relevance to contemporary Indigenous communities in the United States and Mexico. Boyd noted that these communities can connect the narratives depicted in the rock art to their own cosmologies. “This demonstrates the enduring nature of a pan-New World belief system that has persisted for at least 6,000 years,” she stated. “The canyons of Southwest Texas house a vast and ancient library of painted texts, documenting 175 generations of sacred stories and Indigenous knowledge. As both an artist and an archaeologist, I find this discovery breathtaking.”
This research not only enriches our understanding of Indigenous art but also emphasizes the enduring cultural and spiritual legacies that continue to resonate within contemporary communities. The findings present a compelling narrative about the intersection of art, culture, and spirituality, shining a light on the profound connections that span thousands of years in human history.
