THE SONG IN THE STONE

Located in a desert gorge in southern Peru, Toro Muerto is one of the richest rock art sites in South America. It includes at least 2,600 boulders bearing petroglyphs, many featuring figures known as danzantes who appear to be dancing.

- DANIEL WEISS

On at least 300 boulders, danzantes are depicted alongside geometric motifs that are mostly varieties of zigzag lines. The same designs have been found on artifacts from the site that have been radiocarbon dated to around 2,000 years ago. Researchers led by archaeologist Janusz Wołoszyn of the University of Warsaw believe the petroglyphs were produced around this time by members of the local Sihuas culture.