In a remote region of southwest Texas, United States, a newly published study reveals that murals painted on limestone canyon walls carried a shared spiritual worldview for more than 4,000 years. These artworks, created by generations of early hunter-gatherers, offer rare insight into the continuity of cultural beliefs long before written history.
Archaeologists examined dozens of mural sites in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands, a rugged area where the Pecos River meets the Rio Grande. The painted images, known as Pecos River style rock art, include human-like figures, animals, and symbolic shapes. Researchers say these murals were far more than decoration — they were a form of visual storytelling that preserved cultural knowledge across thousands of years.
The findings, published in Science Advances, suggest that this art tradition began nearly 5,800 years ago and lasted until just over 1,000 years ago. Experts say this extended timeframe makes the Pecos River murals one of the longest continuously practiced art traditions in North America.
One artistic vision across thousands of years
Lead researcher Karen L. Steelman, from the Shumla Archaeological Research & Education Center, led a team that used radiocarbon testing to date 57 paint samples directly and an additional 25 from surrounding mineral layers. The analysis was carried out at 12 separate rock shelters.
Rather than being added haphazardly over time, the murals followed a deliberate sequence in both color and content. Researchers observed that artists consistently applied black first, followed by red, yellow, and white pigments — a pattern repeated across different sites and time periods.
Stratigraphic studies confirmed that each mural was created in a single event. This means entire compositions — some stretching across large rock surfaces — were painted at once, not pieced together over years. Digital microscopes allowed the team to identify how layers of paint overlapped, offering further evidence of careful planning and execution.
Recurring images, such as ladders, bundled objects, spear points, and stylized human figures, reflect a symbolic language that researchers believe was shared among communities across a wide geographic region.
Spiritual significance and cultural legacy
The materials used to create the murals were sourced locally. Chemical analysis revealed pigments made from iron and manganese minerals, mixed with organic binders like plant extracts and animal fats. These ingredients not only helped the paint adhere to the rock surfaces but also hinted at the practical knowledge and ritual practices of the artists.
Steelman said the consistency in style and symbolic meaning points to a structured belief system that likely influenced later spiritual traditions in Mesoamerica. Though separated by distance and time, echoes of the same ideas appear in cultures far to the south.
The murals were often placed in remote or meaningful locations — canyon walls, springs, and protected rock shelters — which researchers describe as spiritually significant settings. These sites appear to have served as gathering points for ceremonies or storytelling, helping to preserve shared knowledge through the generations.
With more than 130 known Pecos River mural sites, experts believe this rock art represents one of the oldest and most enduring expressions of a Pan-American spiritual tradition.