Prehistoric Rock Art

Among Baja California Sur’s most important cultural assets are the various sites of historic and cultural significance, in particular the prehistoric rock art found throughout the State.  This important cultural heritage can be promoted sustainably for the benefit of local communities across Baja California Sur.  The most noteworthy site is Sierra de San Francisco in the Municipality of Mulegé which was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994 and constitutes one of the largest concentrations i of rock art on earth.  Its worth noting that Sierra de San Francisco is considered one of the five most important such sites in the world. 

At Sierra de San Francisco, there is a management plan in place which not only protects the painted sites but the environment as well.  The local population participates as guides, outfitters, service providers, custodians and the first and most effective line of defense for this fragile artistic manifestation because they have seen a direct, personal economic benefit in this sustainable activity.  An added value to this has been to reduce the economic dependence on large herds of goats (for the production of cheese) that severely overgrazed and eroded the landscape until recently.  This model of sustainable development and management is being replicated in the Sierra de Guadalupe further south[1]