Angel Rodriguez Alvarez a Preliminary Petroglyph
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ANGEL RODRIGUEZ ALVAREZ A PRELIMINARY PETROGLYPH SURVEY ALONG THE BLANCO RIVER: PUERTO RICO INTRODUCTION Among the islands that form the Greater and Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico is well known for the quantity and quality of its petroglyphs and pictograph. The different designs and techniques of the rock engravings vary in Puerto Rico even in adjoining sites, or on the same boulder, ledge or wall cave. In Puerto Rico, the study of petroglyphs has been documented in detail since the last century by Pinart (1890), Dumont (1876), and Krug (1876). During the early 1900's, the main study of rock art was made by Stalth (n.d.) and Fewkes (1907); and later by Frasseto (1960)), Rouse (1952, 1949) and Alegría (1941). Recently, several works have been done on this subject, such as the reports by Walker (1983), Martinez (1981) and Dávila (1976). Among these researches, only works of Walker (1983) and Frasseto (1960) deal with the Blanco River petroglyphs. However, the present study differs from the previous works that have been done on this area, because they have dealt with the Blanco River petroglyphs sites primarily on a general level. DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH AREA Puerto Rico has two main physiographic regions, the Coastal Plains and the Mountain Systems. The Sierra de Luquillo Mountains are located at the Northeast of the Island. This Sierra divides the Gurabo River from other rivers that flow toward the Atlantic Ocean. The highest peaks are: El Toro (1,074 meters), El Yunque (1,065 meter), and Pico del Este (1,051 meters). The south slope of El Yunque provides the drainage system for the Blanco River (Galiñanes, 1977:6). The river area surveyed for the present study ranges from the origin of the Blanco River, at the junction of the Icacos and Cubuy rivers, to the hydroelectric power plant (Fig 1.). This area is located at the south edge of the Caribbean National Forest (Sierra de Luquillo Mountains) in the municipality of Naguabo. This region is the rainiest area in Puerto Rico. It has an average rainfall of 305 centimeters (120 inches) annually. The peak rainfall occurs in May, specially at higher elevations, and the lowest rainfall occurs in March. The higher elevations have about 250 rainy days annually, and the precipitation is less on the South and West sides than on the North and East due to the orographic effects of the mountains. The vegetation of the area is typical of a tropical rainforest and varies from luxurian trees and ferns on the lower slopes to dwarf forest on exposed peaks and ridges (U.S.D.A. Forest Service, 1986: 3-2, 3-3). MATERIAL AND METHOD The present study was made between 1987-88. All the sites were photographed and a hand drawing was made for each petroglyph. In essence, the method employed in this study to analyze and record the rock engravings is based in the works of Swartz (1981), Anati (1977) an Louch (1973). The photographic equipment used was a Nikon F.M. Camera, Nikor Zoom lens (15-150 mm). In the addition, a Kodacrome ASA 400 slide film was suitable for the light available in the forest. The main criteria to establish the different styles and engraving techniques of the petroglyph under study are those mentioned in the works of Dubelaar (1986a, 1986b) and Bullen (1973). According to Bullen (1973: 94-105), the petroglyphs of Puerto Rico and the Antilles in general could be divide in seven major groups. These are: 1. Abstract Geometric Designs - This type includes concentric circles, concentric diamonds, and other simple geometric symbols. 2. Colonarie (Capá) style - This type refers to pecked or incised curvilinear lines that are found on boulders or rock shelter walls. Bullen (1973: 96-97) states that the Colonarie style petroglyps are the same as those referred to as Capa by Frasseto (1960, Fig. 9) at the Icacos rock shelter. 3. Representations of Face - 3A. Simple FAce - This subgroup consists of a circle surrounding three dots, or a small circle in which one dot has been elongated, indicating a mouth. 3B Developed Face - Similar to the subgroup mentioned above, but they have nose, ears and hair or rays. 3C. Complicated Faces - This subgroup is more elaborated, showing ornaments like earrings. 4. Sun Symbols - Circular figures with rays that could represent the sun. 5. Swaddled Figures - This type refers to figures that have a head or face with a body that is commonly rectangular in shape. The body could have diagonal, curved or horizontal lines, suggesting a body wrapping. 6. Utuado Type Figures - Under this type, Bullen (1973: 101) identified two subtypes: 6A Squatting Female Figures - This subtype is a squatting anthropomorphic figure with a circle over its bending legs. According to Olsen (1973: 37-39) this motive could represent the deity Atabeira, the Arawack goddes of fertility, in the act of childbirth. 6B. Yocahu Male Figures - This subtype consists of an oval face with large eye sockets, slit eye with a triangle between nose and mouth. The face has thick lips in which the central grove is well marked. In general, Bullen (1973: 101) based the description of 899 his subtype on the works of Frasseto (1960) and Mason (1941: pi 7, Fig. 2). Apart from these seven types recognized by Bullen (1974), it is necessary to include three additional types in the list. 7. Zoomorphic - Representation of birds, mammals, reptiles and arthropods. 8. Head on Rectilinear Body-Feet - This type represents a simple face (Type 3) on a rectilinear body with non-squatting legs. 9. Handholding Anthropomorphic - This type represent two or more figures holding hands. In addition to the several styles of the rock engravings in Puerto Rico, the petroglyph makers used different techniques of incising the rock surface. Dubelaar (1986A: 16-22, 1986B: 6-7) recognized several techniques of petroglyph making activities of which some are found along the Blanco River. These are: 1. Plane Line - The rock surface is planned-off by rubbing, using a blunt implement and moisted sand. This type of technique produces lines that have no clear depth. 2. Grinding - A groove line is made on the surface of the rock by friction. 3. Pecking - This is a technique in which the rock surface is pecked with a stone chisel, directly or with the help of a hammer stone. This technique produces rows of closely adjoined dots or pits which are run together into a grove by technique 2. 4. Modeling - A part of the rock, like a protruding corner, is chosen for its shape and sculptured into a figure, using the type 2 lines. 5. Leveling - This is technique of lowering the surface of the rock, using the Type 1 technique that outlined the motive of the figure. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Based on the data of the present survey, the different designs go further than the Swaddled Infant and Capa Style. The present study has showed that at the same site, different designs were made. At Site 1, the type of design is Swaddled Infant and Site 2 has a face Type 3B. At Site 3, 60% of the petroglyph could be classified as Swaddled Infant (Type 5), 20% Faces Type (Type 3), 10% Abstract Geometric Designs (Type 1) and 10% Hand-Holding Anthropomorphic. At Site 4, 66% of the motives belong to the Swaddled Infant Type, and 33% to the Simple Faces Type. Site 5, has a Swaddled Infant Type petroglyph. The representations at Site 6 are as follow: 15% Zoomorphic, 20% Faces 900 Type, 10% Head on Rectilinear Body-Feet (Type 8), 45% Swaddled Infant Type (Type 5), 5% Hand-Holding Anthropomorphic (Type 9). In addition, Site 7 is classified as the Colonarie-Capá Style (Type 2). The boulder at the junction of the Cubuy and Icacos rivers (Site 8) has 60% of Type 5 motives and 40% of Type 3. In general, 31% of the petroglyphs have a compass bearing of 180° (facing South), 31% have an orientation of 250° (facing West), 22% have an orientation between 200° to 200°, 2% have a compass bearing of 0 (facing North), 2% have 80° (facing East) and 2% have 330%, The major part of the petroglyphs along the river area have a Southern or Western orientation, and the predominant style is the Swaddled Infant Type. It is important to recall that the bianco River runs from North to South (180°) and this fact could explain the orientation of certain petroglyph that are facing toward the South, the other main group of petroglyphs is facing the river (West), having a compass bearing toward the Sunset. Perhaps, the latter group is related to a solar worship. In addition, some of the figures could represent clan symbols, spirits and the zoomorphic motives could have been used in rites of sympathetic magic. Perhaps, the fishing resources at the Blanco River were exploited by the indigenous people of the area during Pre-Columbian times. These resources are limited to certain native fishes that are commonly found in the rivers of the region: fishes like the Govy (Scicydium plumieri), the Dajao (Agonostomus montícola), certain invertebrates such as: the river shrimps (Micratya poeyi) and Macrobachium carcinus and the fresh Water Crab (Epilorocera sinuatifrons). It is important to point out that the tropical ecosystems differ from those at higher latitudes in the high diversity of species and in the low density of individuals by species. As a result, I do not consider that any of the sites under study could indicate a mark between fishing areas that were exploited by different clans or tribes. The fishing resources in the Blanco River are limited, and the different sites are so close to one another that the ecosystem of the river could not support five different groups exploiting its resources at once.