ARQUEOLOGIA IBEROAMERICANA - ISSN 1989-4104
RESEARCH ARTICLE • Vol. 56 (2025), pp. 157-164 •   1.09 MB

Multidisciplinary Computational Exploration of Hidden Graphic Configurations in the Cave Paintings from El Algodonal (Viza, Peru)

Jose Ricardo Mondragon Regalado,1,3 Diomer Marino Jara Llanos,1,4
Alex Vilder Guerrero Becerra,1,5 Juan Enrique Arellano Ubillus,1,6
Margarita Yoqsan Velasquez Diaz,1,7 Nazario Aguirre Baique 2,8

(1) Universidad Nacional de Jaén, Perú; (2) Universidad Nacional Intercultural de la Amazonía, Perú;
(3) jose.mondragon@unj.edu.pe, ORCID; (4) diomer.jara@unj.edu.pe, ORCID; (5) alex.guerrero@unj.edu.pe, ORCID;
(6) juan.arellano@unj.edu.pe, ORCID; (7) margarita.velasquez@unj.edu.pe, ORCID; (8) naguirreb@unia.edu.pe, ORCID


Arqueol. Iberoam.


Resumen
Este estudio analizó las manifestaciones rupestres de El Algodonal (Viza, Perú) mediante un enfoque multidisciplinar que combinó observación directa, ampliación digital, contrastes cromáticos, escala de grises y algoritmos de inteligencia artificial. El objetivo fue identificar configuraciones ocultas y valorar la eficacia de los enfoques computacionales en la investigación del arte rupestre, reconociendo como limitación la falta de dataciones absolutas tanto del sitio como de su contexto regional. Los resultados muestran figuras de notable riqueza formal: un humanoide híbrido con cabeza alargada, torso estilizado, brazos terminados en dedos prolongados y cola; un conjunto de secuencias ascendentes conformadas por series de puntos y flechas asociadas a siluetas antropomorfas con cabezas elongadas. A estas representaciones visibles se suman otras reveladas digitalmente que incluyen microtrazos, secuencias lineales y patrones; aunque detectables mediante análisis computacionales, no pueden confirmarse aún como códigos intencionales debido a la ausencia de un marco cronológico sólido aplicado al registro rupestre de Viza y a la carencia de referencias comparables en otros sitios de la región. En consecuencia, el estudio demuestra la eficacia del enfoque computacional y plantea nuevas perspectivas para el análisis del arte rupestre, subrayando el potencial de la inteligencia artificial para ampliar la comprensión de la expresión simbólica.


Abstract
This study analyzed the rock art at El Algodonal (Viza, Peru) using a multidisciplinary approach that combined direct observation, digital magnification, color contrasts, grayscale, and artificial intelligence algorithms. The objective was to identify hidden configurations and assess the effectiveness of computational approaches in rock art research, recognizing as a limitation the lack of absolute dating of both the site and its regional context. The results show figures of remarkable formal richness: a hybrid humanoid with an elongated head, stylized torso, arms ending in elongated fingers, and a tail; a set of ascending sequences made up of series of dots and arrows associated with anthropomorphic silhouettes with elongated heads. In addition to these visible representations, there are others revealed digitally that include micro-strokes, linear sequences, and patterns. Although detectable through computational analysis, they cannot yet be confirmed as intentional codes due to the absence of a solid chronological framework applied to the rock art record from Viza and the lack of comparable references at other sites in the region. Consequently, the study demonstrates the effectiveness of the computational approach and raises new perspectives for the analysis of rock art, highlighting the potential of artificial intelligence to broaden the understanding of symbolic expression.

Palabras clave
Inteligencia artificial, pinturas rupestres, arqueología cognitiva, arqueología computacional.

Keywords
Artificial intelligence, rock painting, cognitive archaeology, computational archaeology.

Fechas/Dates
Recibido: 23/9/2025. Aceptado: 1/11/2025. Publicado: 8/11/2025.
Publication date: November 8, 2025.

Cómo citar/Cite as
Mondragon, J.R.; D.M. Jara; A.V. Guerrero; J.E. Arellano; M.Y. Velasquez; N. Aguirre. 2025. Exploración computacional multidisciplinar de configuraciones gráficas ocultas en las pinturas rupestres de El Algodonal (Viza, Perú). Arqueología Iberoamericana 56: 157-164.

Otros identificadores persistentes/Other Persistent Identifiers

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