The symmetric anthropomorph signifies a count of 20. Fingers and toes were used to match objects for bartering--one hand = 5; one man = 20 (fingers+toes).
The
petroglyph drawn or inscribed on rock, enumerates the animals taken from
the forest during a particular hunt or fishing expedition. For example,
a man attached to a deer represents 20 deer. In the belief system or supernatural
world, there is a Master (or god) of Animals who supplies the forest with
food. It is believed that the souls of the human dead are used to replenish
this animal kingdom-a system of controlling the exploitation of the resources
of the forest. These petroglyphs therefore served as a type of account
book to the Master of Animals.
| The human dead were placed in urns which were stored in caves or rock shelters in repayment to the Master of Animals. These are from the JJ Quelch collection (1894) |  |
During a known period of drought in South America around 4000 years
ago, the major rivers of Guyana became deep pools. These deep pools held
certain fish types. On the rocks near the deep pools, fish traps were drawn
to indicate the particular fish type available in a given pool.
Fish Trap Petroglyphs were recorded in the Kassikaityu and Kuyuwini
Rivers during a sustained period of low water levels in 1979.
