SAN CRISTOBAL, Dominican Republic, Jan. 8 — Ancient drawings on cave walls, the work of a now-extinct people, are being threatened by the need for concrete blocks and heartburn relief. More than five centuries ago, Christopher Columbus landed on this island and set in motion events that would wipe out its Taino Indians. Now limestone mining threatens some of the last remaining evidence that Tainos lived here: thousands of drawings and carvings left in caves they considered sacred sites.
HERE ARE copulating birds that themselves became extinct, a fish, lizards, cute figures that look like creatures from another planet — drawings in charcoal that one could imagine influencing Picasso. Archaeologists believe the oldest drawings are up to 2,000 years old, but no one is certain because you would have to destroy them to carbon-date them.
“These caves have been compared to the pyramids of Egypt in terms of their importance to Caribbean native culture,” says Domingo Abreu, who has been exploring the caves for more than 20 years and gives tours to students and tourists.
Australian archaeologist Robert Bednarik, who has visited caves here, in Puerto Rico and in Cuba, says the Pomier Caves are the most extensive example of prehistoric art yet discovered in the Caribbean, containing works by Igneri and Carib Indians as well as the Tainos. He is adamant about protecting the site, noting the Tainos left little else behind.
“There is plenty of limestone they can mine without coming near the caves,” he said. “I don’t understand why this even has to be an issue.”
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http://www.msnbc.com/news/512223.asp
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-Administrator / Owner
"Everything was true. God was an astronaut. Oz really is over the
rainbow. ...and Midian is where the monsters live." -Nightbreed
HERE ARE copulating birds that themselves became extinct, a fish, lizards, cute figures that look like creatures from another planet — drawings in charcoal that one could imagine influencing Picasso. Archaeologists believe the oldest drawings are up to 2,000 years old, but no one is certain because you would have to destroy them to carbon-date them.
“These caves have been compared to the pyramids of Egypt in terms of their importance to Caribbean native culture,” says Domingo Abreu, who has been exploring the caves for more than 20 years and gives tours to students and tourists.
Australian archaeologist Robert Bednarik, who has visited caves here, in Puerto Rico and in Cuba, says the Pomier Caves are the most extensive example of prehistoric art yet discovered in the Caribbean, containing works by Igneri and Carib Indians as well as the Tainos. He is adamant about protecting the site, noting the Tainos left little else behind.
“There is plenty of limestone they can mine without coming near the caves,” he said. “I don’t understand why this even has to be an issue.”
Want to learn more?
http://www.msnbc.com/news/512223.asp
------------------
-Administrator / Owner
"Everything was true. God was an astronaut. Oz really is over the
rainbow. ...and Midian is where the monsters live." -Nightbreed