Comedero Arriba: Petroglyphs and Cave Paintings

Comedero Arriba appeals to travelers interested in rock art and archaeological traces. The motifs range from engraved faces and depictions of animals to human figures. The caves are not interchangeable: Guacara de Comedero n°1 and the nearby Abrigo de Vinicio, just a few meters away, are known for petroglyphs, while Guacara de Comedero n°3 and n°4 feature different cave paintings. Alongside the motifs, the seasonal restriction at n°3 is an important consideration for your plans.

Petroglyphs and archaeological traces

Guacara de Comedero n°1 contains about 23 petroglyphs; a pre-Hispanic grave was also excavated there. Abrigo de Vinicio is a separate site, just a few meters from Guacara n°1. It has about 24 petroglyphs, engraved lengthwise into unusual stalagmite deposits. Most depict faces that have been heavily altered by natural limestone erosion. The eroded faces thus define the visual impression at the Abrigo; at Guacara n°1, the grave find adds an archaeological dimension to the petroglyphs.

Guacara de Comedero n°3: Imagery and access

To reach the paintings in Guacara de Comedero n°3, you must travel about 100 meters through narrow passages in the river and climb over steep elevation changes. One pictograph depicts a bird almost a meter tall holding a turtle in its beak. Both the imagery and the route are therefore important to your plans: the depiction is reached via a passage characterized by tight spaces, the river, and sections that require climbing.

During the rainy season, an underground river makes entering Guacara de Comedero n°3 nearly impossible; access to the pictograph chamber is then completely impossible. Check current access conditions before making a firm plan to visit.

Animal and human depictions in Guacara de Comedero n°4

The paintings in Guacara de Comedero n°4 include a large heron figure, turtles, and various birds. They also depict the head and part of the body of a mute dog. A group of dancing human figures complements the animal motifs; another painting shows long-necked birds perched on a branch. Compared with the single bird-and-turtle depiction in n°3, n°4 brings together several animal motifs and a human scene.

Rock art as a reason to travel

The distinction is clear if you have a particular theme in mind: Guacara de Comedero n°1 and nearby Abrigo de Vinicio are known for petroglyphs, while n°3 and n°4 feature paintings with different motifs. If you are traveling to Comedero Arriba for the rock art and looking for a holiday apartment, first consider whether you want to include Guacara de Comedero n°3 in your plans. The rainy season should influence your timing for this visit; also check current access conditions.

Discover more destinations: Quitasueño, Villa La Mata

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