Menhirs in South America. Cultural demonstration in the center of Argentina

Abstract

The present work deals with archaeological research carried out in the El Mollar area, Province of Tucumán, Argentine Republic, where a total of 114 Menhirs dated to the beginning of the Common Era are found, corresponding to the so-called Tafí Culture. The original reasons for their construction are unknown, and we will study their probable locations, astronomical orientations, and cultural meanings.

Our work intends to update the records of these sites, catalog the existing pieces and their marks and drawings, including the background from classical archives; two expeditions already carried out and a series of work projects in this mountainous area in search of possible original locations and other structures, and an exhaustive field survey using modern technologies at the main sites, in order to understand more about the Tafí Culture, their beliefs, and the devotion that gave rise to the carving of the aforementioned monuments.