A past between the lines

Rock art is not exclusive to Africa, Asia, or Europe; it is also part of the heritage of the Americas and Costa Rica. The new exhibition A Past Between the Lines: Rock Art in the Guanacaste Volcanic Mountain Range, organized by the Central Bank Museums, demonstrates this with findings on the slopes of the Rincón de la Vieja, Tenorio, Orosí, and Miravalles volcanoes.

There are also examples of pre-Columbian art, such as petroglyphs and paintings on the walls of caves and rock formations. Some of these works are considered to be the oldest in the world.

A past between the lines
A past between the lines
A past between the lines

A past between the lines: an unprecedented archaeological find

The exhibition is based on the findings of the Guanacaste Archaeological Project (PRAG), an international collaboration between researchers from France, Germany, and Costa Rica, which spent three years analyzing 74 archaeological sites, 27 of which were documented for the first time in the National Museum’s Orígenes database.

A team of scientists made up of archaeologists Philippe Costa and Eric Gelliot (France), Martin Künne (Germany), and Priscilla Molina (Costa Rica) carried out multidisciplinary work combining technology, field analysis, and a cultural approach to deepen our understanding of these ancient forms of expression.

A past between the lines
A past between the lines

An experience for everyone

This exhibition connects art, history, and identity through the cultural legacy of the volcanoes of northern Costa Rica. It is open daily from 9:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Central Bank Museums, located beneath the Plaza de la Cultura in downtown San José.

Admission fees:

  • Foreigners: $15 (regular) and $11 (students with ID).

Tickets available online: boleteria.museosdelbancocentral.org

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