Enigmatic Cave Art

By Ken Rivadeneira

High in the Sierras south of San Ignacio, you'll find large murals painted on the rocks of cliffs and caves. Perhaps several thousands of years old, the mostly black, red and white hues of the paintings are still bright and powerful, but the identity of those who created them remains a mystery.

Since the arrival of Spanish missionaries in the 1700s, the answer to this question has been elusive. The local Cochimí tribe of the time claimed a race of northern giants was responsible. While that seems plausible, due to the enormousness of the paintings (at a maximum of 45 feet in length, they are among the largest examples of prehistoric rock art in the world), the artists left evidence to the contrary — outlines of their hands. This sort of "signature" confirms that the mural painters were no more than five-feet-five-inches tall.

Although the elaboration of the paintings is explainable, the work involved — often at dizzying heights — seems so great that it is hard to fathom how ancient peoples could achieve this feat. It is no wonder a string of theories on the subject has evolved. Opinions range from the conventional to the bizarre; while some conclude that the painters used trees and animal hides for scaffolding and ladders, others theorize that they somehow mastered the power of levitation.

Over the years, the paintings have been the subject of many books and even subsequent artwork. While it is somewhat difficult to visit the caves, local artist and gallery owner Kaki Bassi, who draws inspiration from the rock art, creates pieces with similar textures and themes in her Los Cabos gallery. If a journey to the caves is impossible, her gallery is the next best way to admire this long-lasting, fascinating style of art.

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