STONE CONES IN THE HILLS SOUTH OF MINAS, LAVALLEJA, URUGUAY
CONOS DE PIEDRA EN LOS CERROS AL SUR DE MINAS, LAVALLEJA, URUGUAY
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4067/s0717-73562026000100403
Elena Saccone D’Ambrosio
and Moira Sotelo Rico
Key words: CCairns, stone structures, highlands archaeology, heritage conservation, hill landscapes.
Abstract
Stonework is a millennia-old tradition in many regions of the world. In Uruguay, circular-based conical stone structures have been identified under various denominations, although their origin and function remain unclear. This article presents the study of two clusters of such cones located in the hill ranges south of Minas, Lavalleja. A pedestrian survey recorded twelve structures, complemented by the production of three-dimensional models of two examples. Additional structures were identified using satellite imagery. The cones are located on west-facing slopes, built from locally available rock on leveled platforms. They display morphological variability that enabled us to define three types: truncated cones, “bottle-shaped” cones, and quarter-sphere cones. Their preservation varies considerably, reflecting both human disturbance and natural factors. Documentary sources and comparison with analogous materialities from elsewhere in South America suggest possible symbolic, ritual, funerary, or territorial roles. In Lavalleja, the presence of quartz, the placement near water springs, and solar alignments lend support to a hypothesis of ritual practices associated with the sacralization of hilltops. This study is a first step toward integrating these structures into the department’s heritage inventory and underscores the need for public policies and systematic research that bring together archaeological research, conservation, and community participation.
