Toro Muerto

Toro Muerto is a collection of petro-glyphs that are in the Peruvian coastal desert. They can be found in the Castilla province in the region Arequipa in Peru. The archaeological site contains over three thousand volcanic rocks. It is considered to be the largest of its kind in the world. Almost all the rocks contain petro-glyphs that can be dated back to the Wari Culture. The Wari were a civilization that was prominent from 500 to 1000 CE and they flourished in the south-central Andes and coastal regions of Peru.

It is believed that the stones mark the passage of time. The pictures depict crying dancers that have energy shooting off the top of their heads and they are known as the "crying Viracocha". Tici Viracocha was worshiped as sun god who wore rays for crowns and carried thunderbolts in his hands and had tears streaming down his face. The sun god is remembered for his teachings and he wept for his people.

The petro-glyphs in the rocks portray numerous different figures. The figures that the rocks portray include musicians, shepherds, hunters, mythical creatures, animals, flowers, trees, shapes, patterns as well as depictions of different ethnicities and cultures.

This site is in danger of being destroyed by a nearby new settlement that has begun to irrigate part of the zone. There is an agreement between the ministry of culture and the settlers that is allowing this.