PETROGLYPHS AT 'EL VALLE DEL SOL'

The site of El Valle del Sol is found in a small river gorge that runs from north to south. It is extremely hard to find (not signposted and not supervised) about 10 km northwest of the town of Ovalle. There are two different environments at this site. To the east is a plateau (a meseta) the edge of which has been denuded by the river. Many of the outcrops and blocks of the meseta (visble just above the green tree in the photo) have been engraved with geometric designs and a few iconic figures (one possible camelid). On the west side of the river are many engraved boulders on the slope of the high hills.

On the slope of the hill at El Valle del Sol are many smooth boulders with a deep brown patination that have superficially been engraved with circles, lines and the occasional keyhole design (compare with El Encanto). Although there are some stones with cupules (and only one or two stones with grinding hollows) there are no true combinations of cupules with for example circular designs.

On the same hill slope is one of the best engraved stones of El Valle del Sol. There are many lines and circles that do not seem to form a specific design. However, on the right-hand side of the stone are two features that may be interpreted as faces. The eyes and mouth of one of them seem to have been added (or perhaps re-worked) at more recent times.

NEW ...... The web site of RUPESTREWEB features my survey about cultural depressions at two rock art sites near Ovalle, Chile.