When you buy through link on our site , we may gain an affiliate commission . Here ’s how it works .
Brazilian archaeologists have discovered a vast act of 2,000 - year - old rock and roll carvings that limn human footprints , celestial - torso - like physical body , and representation of animals , such as cervid and furious slob .
The discovery was made during three despatch between 2022 and 2023 in Jalapão State Park , located in the state of Tocantins . researcher with Brazil ’s National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage ( IPHAN ) discover 16 precolonial archaeological internet site , all located on bouldered cliffs close to each other .
The archaeological sites are located on rocky cliffs close to each other in Brazil’s Jalapão State Park.
" This proximity suggest a potential link between the sites and clarifies settlement patterns of the ancient community that inhabited the region,“Rômulo Macêdo , the archeologist who led the body of work , told Live Science via Whatsapp .
Many of the newfound carvings are engraved symbol created by wear out rock and roll . The team also come across a handful of cherry-red house painting at some of the sites . " It is potential that the paintings are old than the engravings , and that they were made by another ethnic group , " Macêdo pronounce .
The rock art determination is " rare and significant " because until now , archaeologists had found only Harlan Stone artifact from the precolonial Indigenous peoples of Jalapão , Marcos Zimmermann , an archaeology prof at the Federal University of Tocantins in Brazil who was not involved in the recent findings , told Live Science via Whatsapp .
Similar rock art findings at different sites in Jalapão suggest they are linked.
The earlier ceramic artifact and stone tool establish at archaeological site in Jalapão may have been significant items for producing artistic production . " The engravings were probably made using pointed stones and piece of Grant Wood , while the house painting pigments were create from the pulverisation of iron minerals very abundant in the realm ; the powder was then mixed with beast or vegetal blubber and apply to the rock using digit or joint , " Macêdo allege .
touch : Severe drouth reveals more than 100 rock sculpture in Amazonian tributary that may be up to 2,000 age honest-to-god
The findings in Jalapão have yet to be full canvass . However , they have technical and thematic similarities with other archeological sites in different states of Brazil , which suggests the rock art date to around 2,000 years ago , according to Macêdo .
Scientists estimate that the rock carvings are about 2,000 years old.
" Further analysis of sway art and archeological excavation at the site will provide new information about the direction of life and spirituality of these Indigenous groups , " he enjoin . The determination may also shed light on the " emblematic repertoire of precolonial populations , " Macêdo sum up .
Jalapão State Park cover an area of about 13,000 square mile ( 34,000 square kilometers ) and is an arid region with sand dune , rivers and giant rock music formations , hit it stomach out among the beleaguer Cerrado biome , a unequalled tropical savannah known for its biodiversity . It lies about 430 to 500 geographical mile ( 700 to 800 kilometers ) in the south of the Amazon rainforest .
However , archaeological workplace in Jalapão has been scarce and has focalise primarily on salvage archaeology studies prompted by agricultural or infrastructural exploitation , Zimmermann said . Some parts of the state have yield artefact dating to between 425 and 12,000 years ago , including ceramic and arrowheads , noted Zimmermann , who also suffice as the general coordinator of enquiry at the Tocantins Archaeology Center ( NUTA ) .
— Did art exist before modern humans ? New discoveries elevate fully grown questions .
— 10,000 - year - old burial from unknown hunting watch - gatherer group discovered in Brazil
— sure-enough DNA evidence of syphilis congener discovered in 2,000 - twelvemonth - honest-to-goodness skeletons in Brazil
Despite the implication of these discoveries , the park faces threat such as corrosion , vandalism anddeforestation . IPHAN hasannouncedplans to collaborate with research institutions to train projects to preserve and disseminate the region ’s archeologic heritage . " Sandstone , along with environmental factors like air current and sun , degrades rock paintings , " Zimmermann pronounce .
