According to a study published in the Cambridge archeology journal, the petroglyphs created by the Spanish Levantine culture provide evidence that ancient people practiced rock climbing at a high level, for which they made ropes and other special equipment, and they did not forget about safety.
A depiction recently discovered at the Barranco Gómez site in Teruel shows the most complex use of ropes yet discovered in Levantine art. The research in question, which was carried out by Heritage Daily presented, he scrutinized these images, with particular regard to the use of a rope ladder to reach a beehive. The aim of the specialists is to understand the various uses of the rope made by our ancestors and their technological developments.
Close examination of the depictions in Albacete, Castello, Huesca, Teruel and Valencia does not provide clear insight into the specific technique of rope production, such as whether twisted or braided threads were used.
However, the length of these ropes shows that Spanish Levantine societies were technologically adept at making high-quality ropes. Their sophisticated technique suggests that their expertise in the manufacture of long ropes was tailored to the activity of mountain climbing.
The only activity that can be precisely identified is the collection of honey, for which, according to the photos, a roughly 25-meter-long volume was woven. The use of rudimentary rope ladders, and especially the significant risk of climbing to such heights, underlines the outstanding importance of honey and wax collection for these social groups.
Bee-related products were of considerable importance in prehistoric times, serving various economic, technological and cultural purposes such as food source, high calorific value and tool making. The depicted scenes show a series of rope systems, which the researchers grouped according to their size, shape and flexibility: rigid ladders and flexible ropes and ropes made using different raw materials.
Although Spanish Levantine rock art is found over a wide geographical area, depictions of climbing systems (ropes and ladders) are concentrated in two distinct regions: the Maestrazgo in the northern regions of Castelló and Teruel, and the Caroig Mountains in the southern region of Alicante. This observation leads the research team to conclude that these representations may indicate specific behavior, territorial codes, or have symbolic significance.
Although many of the scenes examined in this study are familiar, ropes and the technology associated with them have not been comprehensively examined before. The materials used to make ropes and the techniques used to create them are largely undetectable in the archaeological record, making it difficult to trace their origins.
By analyzing the descriptions of other researchers and conducting field investigations, the team gathered valuable evidence about the structure, use and manufacture of these ropes.
Spanish Levantine rock art is a remarkable heritage, unique to the eastern region of the Iberian Peninsula, and developed after the Paleolithic era. It has been part of the World Heritage since 1998 with more than a thousand recorded locations. This art form depicts human life in an extraordinary way at the pivotal stages of its development. Characterized by a natural style and rich narrative elements, they depict dynamic scenes that include hunting, warfare, social activities, gatherings and more, providing an invaluable glimpse into the past.
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2023-07-22 17:34:10
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