Mysteria
Verified22.9758° S · 65.4644° W · 3680 m

Inca Cueva (Jujuy) – Quebrada Painted Caves

Cueva del Inca Jujuy · Inca Cueva 4

Paleo-Indian – Inca (c.10,620 BP – 1532 CE)·South Andean hunter-gatherer → Humahuaca → Inca (Coyas)·🇦🇷 Jujuy, Humahuaca District, Argentina

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About

About Inca Cueva (Jujuy) – Quebrada Painted Caves

High puna painted cave system (10,620 BP – Inca 1450) in Humahuaca gorge: 6 caves (Inca Cueva 1,4,7) at 3680 m with stratified sequence: Fell-type projectile points 10.6k, early paintings of camelids/hunting scenes 8k, Humahuaca blackware ceramics 900 CE and Inca co-option 1440 (Inca trail tambo). Cave 4 famous for black geometric paintings and 10600 BP camelid bone. Carlos Aschero 1980s– INAPL excavations tied quebrada occupation to Atacama corridor; cave preserves rare high-altitude hunter art before Tiwanaku.

Why it mattersHighest-stratified Paleo-Indian cave in northwest Argentina (10.6k); continuous rock-art sequence 10k to Inca providing vertical Andean desert cultural biography.

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Mysteries & theories

Mysteries

  1. 0110.6k projectile point type Fell vs regional Paiján
  2. 02Black geometric style cosmology

Theories

  1. 01Puna corridor linking Atacama desert foragers to Humahuaca farmers
  2. 02Inca tambo using ancient hunting lodge as road shelter

Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.

History

How it came to be

Built
natural caves painted 8,000 BCE–600 CE
Period
Paleo-Indian – Inca (c.10,620 BP – 1532 CE)
Culture
South Andean hunter-gatherer → Humahuaca → Inca (Coyas)
Purpose
High-altitude hunting lodge, rock-art gallery and Inca tamboc cave shelter
Excavation
Excavated

  1. natural caves painted 8,000 BCE–600 CE

    Initial construction

  2. c. 1357 CE

    Major expansion

On the ground

Structures & features

22.9758° S · 65.4644° W · 3680 m · 2 mapped features

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