Boca de Potrerillos . This archaeological zone houses the largest collection of petroglyphs and cave paintings in the country. In the Mexican state of Nuevo León , city of Monterrey .
Summary
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- 1 Location
- 2 Description of the area
- 3 Related Links
- 4 Sources
Location
Between the Antrisco and La Zorra hills , the rocks reveal one of Nuevo León’s best kept secrets: Boca de Potrerillos. It is located 14 kilometers from the municipality of Mina and 60 from the city of Monterrey. In the municipality of Mina, Nuevo León, in the middle of the desert and between two mountain ranges that form a natural entrance to the Potrerillos Canyon, is the archaeological zone of Boca de Potrerillos, where you can see numerous engravings on rocks, known as petroglyphs, the most of them scattered around the Sierra La Zorra.
Description of the area
The footprints that can be seen in the engravings of the rocks, distributed in the six kilometers that comprise the area, as well as the tools and pieces of art, allow us to know the way of life of the ancient inhabitants, indigenous gatherers and hunters. Among the different objects, pre-Hispanic stoves, shell, bone and stone ornaments and rocks with representations of hunting, religious ceremonies and worship of natural phenomena stand out.
The studies carried out in the area have allowed us to theorize about the advances of the inhabitants of Boca de Potrillos, and the fact is that not only the amount of elements found as spear points are decisive, but also the choice of strategic places for funeral burials.
It is estimated that here there are between 8,000 and 10,000 petroglyphs in a total area of approximately 600 Ha, although the highest concentration is located in an area of 25 Ha. Due to their degree of exposure to the elements, it can be concluded that the petroglyphs were made at different times, although the oldest are more than 8,000 years old. The limestone rocks allowed the indigenous people to obtain a high contrast between the exterior of the rock and the engraved designs, while the orientation, in general, is towards the sunrise. Due to its high concentration of engravings, this archaeological site can be considered one of the most important for the study of rock art in our country.
Most of the designs are abstract, although there are also elements that suggest the cult of natural phenomena such as rain, sun and stars, as well as the representation of shamans, artifacts, plants and animals related to rituals, hunting and fertility, among Other themes.
Lithic artifacts were found in the area, such as projectile points, crescent-shaped scrapers, small plates with incisions like amulets, grinding stones, shell beads, pots and ceramics. More than five hundred hearths were also located, that is, small mounds of fragmented rock with evidence of exposure to fire. Over the years and due to the type of sedimentation in the area, the stoves were covered by thin layers that protected the coal from the passage of time, which allowed obtaining the date.
The investigations in Boca de Potrerillos have gathered a good amount of data and information on the cultural and natural trajectory of one of the most important sites in the Mexican northeast, from prehistory to historical times. The area includes a small on-site museum that has basic services.
