Relations between the characteristics of technical support and production of the engravings

With regard to the technique of execution, and based on the characteristics of the substrate mentioned above, we suggest that the prints were made in two ways: by rubbing, pressure and incision.

The first technique (rub-pressure) was used for the preparation of the grounds of hands. Through experiments on a similar substrate, we have seen the engravings were done using the fingers of the performer as the main tool, which was rubbed on the sedimentary rock until the fingers fit perfectly into the cavities. According to the depth of the engraving, the process took only 3 to 5 minutes. In some hands, the fingers are elongated and have a wedge shape. Usually, the palms are blurred.

The incision technique was used for wawa-shaped motifs (infant) or funerary bundle, which were made possible with a sharp, thin element, according to the thickness of the line of the motifs (Fig. 21). The same technique was used in recent times in Tutacachi-D (Figures 24 and 25).