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NGO Profile: Bolivian Rock Art Research Society

Posted: Mikaela on Feb 22 | Uncategorized

Modern-day Bolivia occupies a geographical area that has been home to countless civilizations since the arrival of humans to South America. From the heights of the Andes to the eastern jungles, Bolivia is a treasure trove of urban and domestic relics that give testament to the complexity and richness of those ancient societies. Though Bolivia’s cultural history is not well-studied by academics, in many cases, Bolivia’s historical treasures are only undiscovered insofar as they are not widely known and have not been studied or examined by outsideinvestigators. Indeed, many sites and relics are known to local communities and serve as monuments or sacred places.

The Bolivian Rock Art Research Society, known by its Spanish acronym SIARB (La Sociedad de Investigación del Arte Rupestre de Bolivia), was founded in 1987 with the intention to investigate and catalog rock paintings and petroglyphs, to preserve these sites, and generate educational material for both professional and public audiences.

SIARB has cataloged over 1000 sites within Bolivia, the majority of which are located high the Andes Mountains. Their organizational Code of Ethics requires that members not disclose the locations of these sites to protect the integrity of the artifacts as well as the communities that house them. SIARB works with local communities to learn more about the history of art or petroglyphs. In addition, they work with citizens to plan the preservation of sites.

SIARB has also worked with national and international bodies to share information about their historically and anthropologically relevant findings. This includes the creation of visitors’ platform in Oruro, support of archaeological parks throughout Bolivia, and organization of five international rock art conferences. SIARB has also worked with the Bolivian government to encourage preservation of archeological sites. They have also partnered with the Bradshaw foundation, an international organization dedicated to research and education regarding ancient art.

http://www.siarb-bolivia.org/

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