The Farallón of Sandillal
Location
At the foot of the Tenorio Volcano, on the left bank of the Cabuyo River, which flows into the Corobicí River. It is 177 meters above sea level.
Area size
Wall 28 m long by 6.50 m high approx.
Dating
Various time periods, from 500 B.C. to 1550 A.D.
Access
Private
Contact:
Familia López
8911-8680
Description
This is the only cave site recognized as a national monument in Costa Rica. Its engravings decorate a high and wide wall composed of white ignimbrite. At the entrance to the decorated sector, there are four large rocks, two of which have motifs. Although there are similar cliffs on the banks of the Cabuyo River, only this one is decorated.
It has more than 250 motifs that are organized in groups of geometric shapes, anthropomorphic figures (such as heads), and zoomorphic figures (such as lizards, birds, scorpions, and fish).
Some of the heads have a headdress (possibly feathered) that corresponds to the paintings on ceramic ware of the Mora Polychrome group (Guabal variety). However, the parallel wavy lines, the opposite spirals and the isosceles crosses organized in "chessboards" recall the decorations of early ceramics classified in the Galo, Carrillo Polychrome and Bocana Incised groups.
Gallery
Rock representations
Processing techniques
Incisión
Raspado
Pulido
These petro-engravings were carved or scraped on a soft, porous surface and have varied natural hollows that appear to have been enlarged and smoothed later.