New Research Links Ancient Texas Rock Art to Mesoamerican Beliefs
New research has identified a significant connection between ancient rock art in West Texas and the cosmological beliefs of Mesoamerican cultures. Conducted in part at Texas State University, this study has dated Pecos River rock art to approximately 6,000 years ago, revealing complex metaphysical concepts embedded within the imagery.
The research team, comprised of Karen Steelman, Ph.D., Carolyn Boyd, Ph.D., and Phil Dering, Ph.D., has published their findings in the journal Science Advances. Their paper, titled “Mapping the chronology of an ancient cosmovision: 4000 years of continuity in Pecos River style mural painting and symbolism,” demonstrates that these artworks were not merely random images but were part of a sophisticated system of visual narratives.
Carolyn Boyd, who serves as the Shumla Endowed Research Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Texas State, emphasized the importance of their findings. “We have securely dated one of the most distinctive rock art traditions in the world — the Pecos River style murals of Southwest Texas,” she stated. Boyd explained that the murals, painted in limestone rock shelters by Indigenous communities, depict a variety of humanlike, animal-like, and geometric figures arranged in deliberate compositions that can extend up to 100 feet long and 20 feet tall.
For many years, archaeologists believed that the expansive murals were added to and developed over time by various prehistoric peoples. However, the new radiocarbon dating conducted by the research team tells a different story. “Another huge shocker is that the dates within many of the murals clustered so closely as to be statistically indistinguishable,” Boyd noted. This suggests that the murals were created during a singular painting event, challenging the long-held belief that they accumulated over centuries.
The research team utilized 57 direct radiocarbon dates and 25 indirect oxalate dates across 12 sites, employing advanced techniques such as plasma oxidation and accelerator mass spectrometry. Bayesian modeling estimates that the Pecos River style began between 5,760 and 5,385 years ago and likely continued until 1,370 to 1,035 years ago.
Through stratigraphic and iconographic analyses, the researchers determined that eight of the murals adhered to a set of established rules and an iconographic vocabulary. This consistency suggests that the messages conveyed through the murals remained intact despite shifts in material culture, land use, and climate over the millennia.
Boyd elaborated on the artistic process, stating, “The compositional nature of the murals was further supported by our analysis of the painting sequence.” Using a digital microscope, the researchers retraced the steps of the original artists, discovering a rule-bound color application order. This meticulous approach resulted in intertwined paint layers, forming highly sophisticated compositions that have endured for over 4,000 years.
The implications of this discovery extend beyond art history. Boyd highlighted that contemporary Indigenous communities in both the U.S. and Mexico can relate the stories expressed through these ancient images to their own cosmologies. “This demonstrates the antiquity and persistence of a pan-New World belief system that is at least 6,000 years old,” she said. “The canyons of Southwest Texas house a vast and ancient library of painted texts documenting 175 generations of sacred stories and Indigenous knowledge.”
This research not only sheds light on the intricate relationship between rock art and cultural beliefs but also emphasizes the enduring legacy of these ancient narratives. As both an artist and an archaeologist, Boyd describes the findings as “breathtaking,” reflecting the profound connection between the past and present within these ancient landscapes.
