Toquepala Caves

Prehistoric caves located 26 km southeast of Moquegua and near the Toquepala mine in southeastern Peru, at an elevation of 2,300 metres. The caves contain over 50 rock paintings dating to approximately 7650 BC, depicting hunting scenes where armed figures corral and kill guanacos using axes, lances, and spear throwers. The art was painted in red, yellow, white, and black pigments made from hematite. Discovered by a mine worker in the 1950s, the caves were formally studied by Jorge C. Muelle and Rogger Ravines between 1963 and 1967.