Ancient rock paintings have been uncovered in a cave within Brazil’s Itatiaia National Park. Located at an altitude of 2,350 meters in the Mantiqueira Mountains on the border of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states, these paintings are believed to be between 2,000 and 3,000 years old. Experts are conducting studies to determine their age, origin, and cultural significance.
The National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN) was notified shortly after the find to provide legal oversight and guidance on the protection of the site. To safeguard the archaeological discovery, the area has been fenced off, monitored by security cameras, and public access is temporarily prohibited. “At this first moment, visitation to the archaeological site will not be allowed. We will wait for the progress of the studies and evaluate, together with the researchers, the best strategy for future visitation,” said Felipe Mendonça, manager of the Itatiaia National Park, according to O Estado de S. Paulo.
The paintings were discovered by Andrés Conquista, who was participating in a climbing program in the Mantiqueira Mountains. While photographing a cluster of blooming red lilies, he noticed a strangely shaped rock nearby. “Upon climbing another rock and descending on the opposite side, I saw the paintings on the surface,” said Conquista, according to O Globo. Initially thinking they might be tourist souvenirs, he soon realized their potential antiquity. “At first, I thought these paintings might be souvenirs from tourists, but since there were no names or dates on them, I suspected I was facing something very ancient,” Conquista said in an interview with Agência Brasil.
Following the discovery, Conquista informed the staff at ICMBio, the federal agency in charge of Brazil’s conservation units. A working group of archaeologists from various institutions was formed to study the site, including researchers from the National Museum and local universities. The site, located along a well-traveled hiking trail, had somehow remained hidden until recently, and its discovery was initially kept confidential to prepare necessary protective measures.
“We were surprised to come across an entirely new site… but nothing like this had ever been found in Rio de Janeiro,” said archaeologist MaDu Gaspar, according to Archaeology Magazine. She added, “It’s not that similar sites don’t exist; they do, but nothing like this had ever been found in Rio de Janeiro.” The team is also surveying the surrounding landscape for signs of early human activity, suggesting that other similar sites may exist nearby.
The cave drawings in Itatiaia are predominantly geometric, with some figures of animals, including a lizard seen from above. “If this situation is confirmed, the paintings of Itatiaia will represent the southernmost manifestation of this tradition in Brazil,” stated archaeologist Carlos Gabriel, according to O Estado de S. Paulo. The São Francisco Tradition is a grouping of rock paintings found along the São Francisco River, with records concentrated between the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia.
Researchers believe the Agulhas Negras site may be related to other archaeological sites in the region, such as those located in Andrelândia, Baependi, and Carrancas in southern Minas Gerais. The similarities with records from other parts of the country indicate an intense circulation of ideas and symbols among Amerindian peoples. “It is possible that the authors of the Itatiaia paintings belonged to the same cultural wave,” ICMBio stated, as reported by O Estado de S. Paulo.
The rock paintings display shades of red and yellow-orange, with some geometric designs combining these colors. “In addition to its artistic and cultural value, the Agulhas Negras Site reinforces the continuous presence of indigenous peoples in Brazil before the arrival of Europeans,” ICMBio stated, as mentioned in O Estado de S. Paulo. This find is unprecedented in the state of Rio de Janeiro, particularly in a region long regarded as fully explored by scientists.
To preserve the archaeological site and ensure the continuity of research, visitation to the location is temporarily prohibited. Unauthorized invasions may result in fines, and the protection of the site is a shared responsibility between ICMBio, IPHAN, and societal bodies. The plan is to open the site for visitation in the future. Upon completion of the research phases, the site may become one of the tourist attractions of Itatiaia National Park.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.
