2,500-Year-Old Olmec Related Mexican Cave Paintings Are Now Restored And Protected

Mexico has restored a series of colorful 2,500-year-old cave paintings with help from the American archaeologist who first registered them almost 50 years ago.

Paintings are concentrated in the area of Oxtotitlán, a natural rock shelter and archaeological site in Chilapa de Álvarez, Mexican state of Guerrero that contains murals linked to the Olmec civilization.

Locals at the time were throwing rocks at one of the cave's main paintings, because they believed it was a depiction of the devil.

The striking red, ochre and turquoise-blue paintings – that probably depict a human-like figure sitting atop a depiction of the 'earth monster,' a symbol of the underworld – are now restored.

They show their remarkably bright colors, after a 12-year restoration effort by Mexican government archaeologist Sandra Cruz.

Cruz noted this week that she got invaluable help from Dr. David Grove, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

By the 1990s, neglect, graffiti and mineral stains hid some paintings.

Grove first registered the Olmec cave paintings near the hamlet of Oxtotitlan, in southern Guerrero state, in 1968.By the 1990s, neglect, graffiti and mineral stains hid some paintings.

Grove "went with us on the first trip. He told us, 'behind that mineral stain is a such-and-such painting. He helped us a lot because the cave is complex and had changed a lot," Cruz said.

(For more Mexican murals - visit FAMSI website

The researcher explained to the locals that they depict the rain god and “if you destroy it you're going to lose all your water supply and they bought that, and they quit throwing rocks at the painting."

Since then, the people of Oxtotitlan now really care for the paintings.

"Instead of throwing rocks at it, they carefully screen who is coming through, they sort of are the guardians of Oxtotitlan, and they can be rightfully proud," Grove said.

AncientPages.com

source:

FAMSI

AP News