The word petroglyph is derived from the Greek and means "engraved in stone." Therefore a petroglyph is an image or symbol, carved in stone by man. This was how primitive men communicated. To make these drawings, the man used different techniques: percussion, scratching or wear, as well as the implementation of various tools such as sticks, animal bones or very sharp stones.
The percussion technique consists of taking two stones and hitting them together and being able to create grooves in the surface of the rock. It is very similar to the hammer and chisel technique used today. The scratching technique, for its part, consists of using a sharp stone and beginning to scratch the surface. Finally, the wear or abrasion technique consists of "sanding" the surface of a rock with a stone, to later polish with water and sand.
Petroglyphs can be found anywhere on the planet and most of them date back millions of years. It is important to note that thanks to these engravings, the first human beings on the planet were able to communicate and record what was happening in their lives at that time. This is why petroglyphs are considered the ancestors of writing.
Petroglyphs are considered by many to be part of rock art, since they involve all kinds of figures engraved or painted on the rocks and that allow to show records of activities from ancient times.
There are four groups of petroglyphs:
The abstracts, through them you can openly appreciate what they represent.
The geometric ones, in them you can see figures of all shapes (circular, square in the form of crosses, etc.)
The figurative ones, as their name implies, are those that show figures of both animals and humans.
The objects, through them you can see figures that can easily be recognized as arrows, bows, etc.
The most common images of petroglyphs, found around the world by researchers have been:
Experts on the subject coincide in considering the petroglyphs as a form of primitive communication, used by prehistoric men, to narrate their experiences and to be able to leave proof of their existence. In any of the cases, the figures embodied in the rocks, transmit ideas, without having to use words or other forms of communication.
