Serrania de la Lindosa (2022) by ERC LASTJOURNEY projectUniversity of Exeter
Serrania de la Lindosa stands out, majestic, above the tropical lowland forest. Tepuis, river rapids, canyons, waterfalls and caves are all sacred places for Amazonian people, and all are present at La Lindosa.
View of the Guayabero river crossing the Serrania de la Lindosa (2022) by ERC LASTJOURNEY projectUniversity of Exeter
The Serrania de La Lindosa is a unique and extraordinary environment. Its table-top hills look out over the Guayabero River and the Amazon rainforest. For visitors it is stunning - and for indigenous Amazonians, each feature of the landscape also has layers of deeper meaning.
View of Cerro Azul (2022) by ERC LASTJOURNEY projectUniversity of Exeter
Tepuis
Table-top hills known as tepuis tower over the surrounding forest. These fabled hills take their name from the language of the Pemón people of Venezuela: ‘tepui’ means ‘home of the gods’. Their sheer rock faces made of fine sandstone are a perfect canvas for painted rock art.
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Rock art with a view
Human stories have been painted onto these hillsides since the first people arrived in this part of the Amazon 12,600 years ago.
View from inside a cave (2022) by ERC LASTJOURNEY projectUniversity of Exeter
Caves
Caves are viewed as openings to the underworld in Amazonian cultures. At La Lindosa, rock art is often found around the entrances to caves.
Dots on the Principal Panel (2022) by ERC LASTJOURNEY projectUniversity of Exeter
Symbols
Some upturned U-shaped symbols in the paintings may indicate cave mouths. According to local Barasana resident Victor Caycedo, the shape above a deer shown here on the Principal panel marks the presence of a cave.
Guayabero River rapids (2022) by ERC LASTJOURNEY projectUniversity of Exeter
Rapids and waterfalls
In the dry season, rapids and waterfalls form on the Guayabero River. These valuable fishing spots have special status as places inhabited by spirits and the ancestors. Shamans conduct rituals at river rapids to restore balance to the world and ensure the continuation of life.
Canyon of the Guayabero (2022) by ERC LASTJOURNEY projectUniversity of Exeter
Guayabero River canyon
Where the Guayabero meets the Serrania de la Lindosa after the rapids, a majestic deep canyon is formed.
Dots on the Principal Panel (2022) by ERC LASTJOURNEY projectUniversity of Exeter
The night sky
At night, the sky above La Lindosa fills with stars. The sinuous line of the Milky Way is seen by many Amazonian groups as a celestial river, or a mythical giant anaconda.
Dots highlighted on the Principal Panel (2022) by ERC LASTJOURNEY projectUniversity of Exeter
The dots in this painting from the Principal Panel may represent the Milky Way.
