The Bolivian Rock Art Research Society SIARB (Sociedad de Investigación del Arte Rupestre de Bolivia) was founded in January 1987. Its main objectives are: investigation and recording of rock paintings and petroglyphs, protection and conservation of rock art sites, as well as publication of scientific reports and education of the general public. SIARB has registered 1000 sites in all departments of the country though mainly in the Andean region. Rock art in Bolivia has a very long tradition, apparently beginning in the Paleo-Indian period and continued up to the Colonial and Republican periods. Numerous sites are still worshipped by present-day Indians who regard them as sacred places and realise offerings and rites there.

Rock art protection and conservation: SIARB is trying to develop a policy for the conservation of sites taking into account the experience of foreign colleagues and considering such factors as the low educational level of the majority of the population, and the limited budget of cultural agencies.

• SIARB's Code of Ethics obliges its members to respect the integrity of sites and not reveal their exact location to the public, and bans all potentially destructive recording methods.
• An education campaign is on the way directed at children, students and the general public. (See below.)
• An efficient low-cost project to protect a site by impeding access of visitors to a rock art panel has been realized in the national park of Torotoro, Dept. of Potosí.
• SIARB tries to create awareness among inhabitants of nearby villages for the need of protecting sites.
• SIARB works with government agencies to improve the administration of the few existing archaeological parks with rock art in Copacabana, Calacala and Samaipata. In October 2002, the SIARB team inaugurated a visitors' platform at Calacala, Oruro. In 2005 SIARB and the Municipality of Sucre inaugurated the archaeological park of Incamachay-Pumamachay. Since 2003 SIARB is working in the region of Vallegrande in the protection and conservation of rock art in Paja Colorada and Mataral caves.
• In May 2002, SIARB received the Conservation and Preservation Award by the American Rock Art Research Association (ARARA), USA.

Education campaign: SIARB has organised three major rock art exhibitions, one of which toured seven cities, as well as permanent exhibitions on local rock art in several regional museums. It published a flyer on rock art for children (partly modelled after the children's brochure by ARARA/USA) in Spanish and Aymara, flyers on archaeological parks at Calacala, Copacabana and Samaipata, and two booklets for the general public on rock art in the Andes of Bolivia and in the Dept. of Santa Cruz. A series of slides for use in schools has been prepared. Lectures on rock art are frequently held in La Paz. In 1993, the Bolivian post office, in collaboration with SIARB, issued a series of 9 stamps on rock art. In 1997 and 1998 we organized seminars for teachers on archaeology and rock art in schools.

International conferences: SIARB has already organised five international conferences on rock art which took place in Cochabamba in 1988, in La Paz in 1989, in Santa Cruz in 1991, in Cochabamba in 1997, and in Tarija in September 2000. More than 200 investigators from 22 countries participated in the Congress held in April 1997.

Photos of Bolivian rock art: Photos of Bolivian rock art can be found in the Spanish section of this web site (“Galería”). Besides, information on SIARB and photos of Bolivian rock art have been placed on the following Web site: http://www.bradshawfoundation.com

More information: You will find more information about our society in the Spanish section.

Please address your correspondence to:
SIARB Secretary: Matthias Strecker, Casilla 3091, La Paz, Bolivia
SIARB President: Lic. Freddy Taboada, La Paz, Bolivia
Fax: +591-2- 2711809, e-mail: CONTACT