Polish Archaeologists Discover Ancient Native American Paintings in USA [PHOTOS]

Archaeologists from the Jagiellonian University in southern Poland have discovered ancient Native Americans paintings and carvings of the third century (petroglyphs) on the border of the US states of Colorado and Utah, Arkeonews reports.

Polish archaeologists have been exploring this area for over a decade and have been studying the secrets of the 3,000-year-old Pueblo culture (Native Americans peoples of North America).

Professor Radoslaw Palonka of the Jagiellonian University, who has been leading the research since 2011, says that the results obtained fundamentally change the understanding of the settlement of this territory. His team is one of the few European archaeological teams working in this region.

The research is being conducted in the Castle Rock Pueblo settlement complex, located on the border of Colorado and Utah. These places are popular not only among archaeologists but also among tourists because of the famous pre-Columbian settlements built in rock niches or carved into the canyon walls.

Photo: Professor Radoslaw Palonka of the Jagiellonian University says that the results obtained fundamentally change the understanding of the settlement of this territory. Source: Jagiellonian University

"Pueblo farming communities created one of the most advanced pre-Columbian cultures in North America. They perfected the art of building multi-storey stone houses that resembled medieval townhouses or even later apartment blocks. The Pueblo people were also famous for their rock paintings, exquisitely ornamented jewellery and ceramics with various motifs painted with black pigment on a white background," says Professor Palonka.

One of the most important discoveries of Palonka's team was the discovery of unknown petroglyphs at an altitude of 800 metres (2,625 feet) above the cliffside settlement. These petroglyphs, which were used for astronomical observations and calendar determination in the 13th century, changed scientists' understanding of the population and religious practices of the period.

The oldest petroglyphs depicting warriors and shamans date back to the third century AD. Most of the petroglyphs date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, Palonka said.

These carvings come in a variety of shapes, including complex geometric shapes and spirals. They mostly depict shamans, warriors, bison, deer and mountain sheep, and some show hunting scenes.

Photo: One of the most important discoveries of Palonka's team was the discovery of unknown petroglyphs at an altitude of 800 metres above the cliffside settlement. Source: Jagiellonian University

In the XV-XVII centuries, when the area was inhabited by the Ute tribe, large scenes of hunting bison, mountain sheep and deer began to appear on the rock panels. Later, horses were depicted there, marking the period of the Spanish conquests, before which these animals were unknown to the indigenous people of North America.

Among the newest rock paintings is the 1936 signature of Ira Catechism, a famous cowboy known not only in Utah or Colorado, but also in Arizona and New Mexico.

The Polish team is waiting for further discoveries, as well as a detailed 3D map of the canyons prepared by researchers from the University of Houston. This map was created using LIDAR and optical surveys conducted from an altitude of 450 metres above the canyons.

Polish archaeologists are also working closely with local Native American groups, such as the Hopi and Ute tribes, to help them understand indigenous iconography and art, Palonka said.