PETROGLYPHS IN LAS HURDES: NUÑOMORAL

Las Hurdes is a vast area located in the north of the province of Cáceres, in Extremadura. It is a natural landscape of great beauty, where the mountainous terrain gives way to wide valleys. Five rivers give their names to the valleys and create a magnificent ecosystem with lush vegetation, a combination of pine trees, ancient trees, chestnut trees and olive trees that have been the economic lifeblood of its inhabitants for years. We also find other types of vegetation such as heather, rosemary, rockroses and lavender, which are used to produce high-quality bee products, such as honey and pollen. It is characterised by the small villages that make up the region. Las Hurdes are nestled on the mountain slopes to take advantage of the abundant water supply from the five tributaries of the River Alagón that wind through its gorges. At the same time, it borders on natural environments of great beauty such as the Sierra de Francia, the Sierra de Gata, the Ambroz Valley, Trasierra-Tierras de Granadilla and the Alagón Valley.

The rock art of Las Hurdes is found at various sites across the region. Due to their number and unique characteristics, these engravings form a distinct group with its own identity within the post-Palaeolithic rock art of the Iberian Peninsula. The engravings are carved into outcrops of schist or slate at ground level, on smooth surfaces. They are usually oriented towards the north-west and north-east. These are generally located halfway up a hillside, near the course of a river or stream, or in prominent locations commanding a view of the surrounding area. The engravings were made using two techniques: pecking and, above all, more or less deep incisions made with metal tools, which are clearly identifiable because they have ‘V’-shaped grooves. The sites usually feature a small number of representations, although there are exceptions with panels containing a profusion of figures. There are certain characteristic figurative elements, such as horseshoe-shaped symbols, numerous human feet (known as ‘podomorphs’), agricultural tools such as sickles or pruning knives, weapons and schematic human figures. Simple engravings featuring lines or geometric patterns have also been identified. Figurative elements are less common and always depict objects; animals or plants are never represented. When humans do appear, they are depicted only in a schematic manner.